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UMSL Class of Inventors

UMSL inducts inaugural class of inventors

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UMSL_LR.pngMore than 30 University of Missouri–St. Louis faculty, staff and graduate students were inducted into the new campus chapter of the National Academy of Inventors. The NAI was established in 2010 by the University of South Florida to honor academic invention, recognize and encourage inventors and enhance the visibility of university technology and innovation. The Academy currently has 46 charter member institutions and more than 2,000 individual academic inventor members.

Among the inventor inductees is Zhi Xu, associate professor of chemistry at UMSL, who developed a non-invasive glucose monitor, which has been licensed to St. Louis Medical Devices, Inc., a Missouri startup to commercialize the device. He’s also on a patent for developing a light scattering detector along with David Larsen, professor emeritus of chemistry. Products using this technology are on the market. The duo along with Wayne Garver, a retired lecturer in physics and astronomy at UMSL, all helped invent several technologies related to ultrasensitive spectrophotometry.

Also garnering recognition for their invention are UMSL associate professor Carl Bassi, senior research engineering technician Michael Howe and Wayne Garver, who collaborated to invent the Quantitative Three Dot Test, a handheld device to better measure visual suppression. This technology has been licensed to a Q3D Visual Diagnostics, a Missouri startup company. 

 

“We are excited to launch a chapter of the National Academy of Inventors on the UMSL campus. This offers the university a great opportunity to recognize and encourage innovation among faculty, staff and students. I’m proud of
UMSL’s inventors and appreciate this chance to recognize their innovative work.”

—Tamara Wilgers, Director of Technology, Commercialization, and Economic Development
University of Missouri—St. Louis

For more information on the UMSL Chapter of NAI, click here.

Research Parks & Incubators

The University of Missouri System’s statewide network of research parks provides a thriving environment for discoveries to move from the laboratory to the marketplace. The atmosphere of innovation and collaboration attracts national and international tenants who create quality employment opportunities for Missouri citizens and millions of dollars of capital investment across the state.

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Office of Intellectual Property Administration

The Office of Intellectual Property Administration (OIPA) supports the economic development mission by encouraging broad practical application of university research for the public benefit; assisting those associated with the technology transfer program with evaluating, protecting, licensing and commercializing university discoveries; and carrying out new economic development initiatives designed to create jobs in Missouri.

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Funding Opportunities

The Office of Research and Economic Development is dedicated to commercializing university technologies - one of the biggest challenges to that mission is funding. To proactively combat the constant obstacle, the office has formulated different funding programs for faculty, students and innovations in all stages of the discovery process.

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Office of Research & Economic Development

The Office of Research and Economic Development was established in 2005 to link research and commercialization from the four University of Missouri System campuses with emerging and existing firms across the state and around the world. Working closely with the chief research officers, chancellors and technology transfer offices from each campus, the office also serves as a conduit to local, state and federal agencies to ensure research results aid the growth of Missouri’s economy.

The Office is dedicated to advancing Missouri through innovation, investment and infrastructure.

Our enthusiasm for these three categories revolves around the development of intellectual property, funding programs and research parks and incubators. Providing support during critical stages in university inventions’ path to the marketplace stimulates Missouri’s economy, jobs and entrepreneurship.

Our vision is to enable and lead Missouri’s transformation toward a knowledge-based economy dependent upon innovation and entrepreneurship.

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309 University Hall
Columbia MO, 65211
Phone: 573-882-6726
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