Laboratory honors Year 2002 innovators

Contact: Todd Hanson, tahanson@lanl.gov, (505) 665-2085 (03-030)

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Feb. 28, 2003 -- Outstanding work by researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory who received patents in 2002 has been honored with Laboratory Patent and Licensing Awards.

The 2002 Distinguished Patent Award went to Bioscience division’s Basil Swanson and former staff member Xuedong Song for their patent of the Triggered Optical Biosensor. The recipient of this year's Licensing Award was Benjamin Warner of the Chemistry Division’s Actinide, Catalysis and Separation Chemistry Group for his numerous commercialization opportunities for the Laboratory.

Song and Swanson’s invention involves a biosensor technology that can be used for the detection of protein toxins, viruses, antibodies and other biomolecules. Such sensor technology remains essential in defending against terrorist attacks. In addition, the sensor technology offers opportunities in medical diagnostics, such as in the diagnosis of respiratory diseases. The Distinguished Patent Award recognizes inventors whose invention exemplifies a significant technical advancement, adaptability to public use or a noteworthy value to the mission of the Laboratory.

Warner’s chemistry work is in the fields of radiation dosimeter and timing technology, electrochromic window technology, and micro X-ray fluorescence for drug discovery. He is an active participant in the licensing process and plays a crucial role in the efforts to find licensees for his own technologies. Also noted was his ability to develop relationships with potential licensees has been instrumental in moving technologies down the commercialization path.

Warner has 11 patent disclosures and five pending patent applications, the majority of which were submitted in the past two years. He has gone to great lengths to understand the diverse markets for his technologies and has demonstrated great flexibility in pursuing commercialization strategies for the various technologies represented by his work. He has also spent a significant amount of his personal time educating himself on technology transfer policies, market considerations, financing and management team issues.

The Distinguished Licensing Award recognizes a Laboratory innovator who has had a positive impact on the Los Alamos Licensing Program. This individual demonstrates, by example, outstanding success in transferring Los Alamos-developed technologies to the public and private sectors and is recognized for his/her role in confirming the benefits of technology commercialization activities.

Approximately 130 current and former employees were honored at the reception for work resulting in patents, copyrights or license royalties. In 2002, 75 U.S. patents were issued for Los Alamos inventions, 31 commercial licenses were approved and $1.43 million in license income was generated. This year’s number of issued patents was nearly double last year’s number. The Laboratory’s license portfolio now contains more than 600 noncommercial licenses with academia, government entities and other non-profit organizations and more than 150 active commercial licenses. In addition to the awards given to employees for Distinguished Patent and Distinguished Licensing categories, distribution of the innovator’s share of 2002 licensing income was made.

Since its inception in 1988, the licensing program has generated more than $7.5 million in royalties. Approximately two-thirds of that income goes to fund research, education and technology transfer activities at the Laboratory. The remainder goes to the innovators. For 2002, Laboratory divisions received $664,000 in license income and the innovators received $548,000.

Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by the University of California for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) of the U.S. Department of Energy and works in partnership with NNSA's Sandia and Lawrence Livermore national laboratories to support NNSA in its mission.

Los Alamos enhances global security by ensuring safety and confidence in the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction and improving the environmental and nuclear materials legacy of the cold war. Los Alamos' capabilities assist the nation in addressing energy, environment, infrastructure and biological security problems.

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