Trustees: Corporation to plan expanded Research Park

OHIO STATE MAY FORM CORPORATION TO DEVELOP RESEARCH PARK

COLUMBUS -- The Ohio State University is considering 
creating a non-profit corporation to expand the Research 
Park on the southwestern quadrant of the Columbus campus.

Trustees on Friday (12/1) discussed the formation of 
the organization to create a development plan for the park 
along Kinnear Road to expand industry-supported research 
activities and provide greater economic enrichment and 
development activity in central Ohio.

Edward F. Hayes, vice president for research, said, 
"After a year-long study involving various advisory groups 
and consultants, and an internal review process, it's our 
sense that the most effective way to develop the park is to 
establish a non-profit corporation."

According to Hayes, the first phase development plan 
would concentrate on the university's properties along 
Kinnear, but would also provide input into the preparation 
of a larger district plan, to be developed under the 
direction of the university's architect.

Other tasks include negotiating agreements with 
governmental entities to support the Research Park plan, 
coordinating planning with university offices, and seeking 
status as a tax-exempt organization.

Hayes said a key to the development is a partnership 
with the City of Columbus, State of Ohio, and local business 
community.  Under the proposal, the city, state, and 
university  will each contribute $50,000 for the first 
phase.  Partners also will provide some planning and 
marketing assistance.  Once the non-profit organization 
completes phase I development plans, including marketing, 
development, and business plans, the proposal would be 
submitted to trustees for approval.

The Board of Trustees formally established the Research 
Park in 1984.  It has 14 tenants involved in manufacturing, 
information technology, health, biotechnology, and 
monitoring.  One tenant is the Business Technology Center, 
which is home to several start-up businesses.  Two tenants, 
the Edison Welding Institute and Silliker Laboratories, are 
planning new facilities in the Research Park area.

Hayes said more students will benefit by being able to 
work in private businesses in the park.

"Particularly in engineering and life sciences, having 
more private companies in our Research Park will give our 
graduate students a greater range of experiences.  This will 
also provide research funding and collaborative 
opportunities for faculty.  In addition, an expanded 
Research Park will extend the options we have for spinning 
off university-developed technology into private companies."

Patents generate $1.3 million in royalties for university

Edward Hayes, vice president for research, reported 
that, during the fiscal year that ended June 30, Ohio State 
received nearly $1.3 million in royalty income from patents 
held by the university.  That was up $200,000 from a year 
earlier.

"There is a much more significant economic impact 
related to the products and services that generate the 
royalty income," Hayes said.  "Our preliminary analysis 
indicates that the economic impact runs several times that 
amount."

About 60 percent of the royalties came from the sale of 
the feline leukemia virus vaccine, down from 74 percent in 
1994.  Royalties from other technologies rose 61 percent.

During the year, faculty members submitted 56 invention 
disclosures -- ideas for novel processes, products or 
devices -- and the university filed 30 patent applications.  
Faculty from the College of Engineering submitted 24 of the 
invention disclosures.

Thirteen patents were granted, and Ohio State entered 
into 32 licenses and option agreements with companies in the 
United States, Canada and Europe.

Board Approves Contracts For 153 Research Projects

The Board of Trustees accepted 153 research contracts 
totaling $25.3 million.  Cited for special mention were:

-- Round 17 of the National Longitudinal Survey of the 
labor market experiences of American men and women.  Randall 
J. Olsen of the Center for Human Resources Research is 
heading the project at Ohio State, with $5,102,556 in 
funding from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Survey 
results are used by economists, sociologists and researchers 
to examine several public policy issues pertaining to 
employment, education, training, family structure and other 
matters.

-- Mapping of the Antarctic continent with digital 
Synthetic Aperture Radar mosaics via satellite.  The mosaics 
and other information will be prepared on CD-ROM and made 
available to scientists through the National Aeronautic and 
Space Administration.  Kenneth C. Jezek of the Byrd Polar 
Research Center is heading the project with a $2.2 million 
grant from NASA.  The project also is being supported by the 
Ohio Board of Regents.

-- A study and treatment of elder adults with sleep 
disorders.  Charles P. Pollak of the Department of Neurology 
is conducting the project, with $497,616 from the National 
Institute on Aging.

-- A study on the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution 
of sodium borocaptate, a boron compound used as a capture 
agent in patients with brain tumors.  The study, to be 
conducted at University Hospitals, will address whether the 
compound attains enough concentration in the tumor to kill 
malignant cells while sparing normal tissues.  Joseph H. 
Goodman of the Department of Surgery and Rolf F. Barth of 
the Department of Pathology are conducting the study with 
$400,000 from the Department of Energy.

-- Re-establishing an Upward Bound project to provide 
structured activities to 75 primarily low-income, potential 
first-generation college students and their families.  The 
activities are being designed to promote academic and 
personal development and to increase the likelihood that the 
students will graduate from high school and enroll in 
college.  Robert E. Suber Jr. of the Office of Minority 
Affairs will conduct the project, with $220,000 from the 
U.S. Department of Education.

                            #

Contact:  Edward F. Hayes, (614) 292-1582.


[Submitted by: Von Reid-Vargas (ereid@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu)
               
Fri, 1 Dec 1995 14:54:42 -0500]
All documents are the responsibility of their originator.