Origin of the Species - Creating an Innovative Environment for High-Quality Research and Tech Transfer

1. Rudy Dekeyser 21/04/05

2. origin of the species • mission & objectives • creating an innovative environment • is basic high quality research compatible with tech transfer?

3. origin of the species • mission & objectives • creating an innovative environment • is basic high quality research compatible with tech transfer?

4. Origin of the species Antwerp Diepenbeek Ghent Louvain Brussels

5. Origin of the species Step 1. Flemish government evaluates the life sciences research [1994]

6. Origin of the species The 1994 conclusions: • big names in science • but lack of • structural support • critical mass • translation in industrial activities

7. Origin of the species The conventional approach: • Dedicate a certain volume of an existing granting body to life sciences research • danger: • slice it thin • lack of sustainability • Establish a novel independent research institution • danger: • disturb the equilibrium • lag phase

8. Origin of the species Step 2. The VIB concept • unite existing quality • build synergy and critical mass • research • tech transfer

9. Origin of the species VIB – unite existing quality 60 biotech teams in 5 universities evaluation select 9 excellent teams

10. Origin of the species U1 U3 U2 VIB vzw U4 U5

11. Origin of the species VIB – create critical mass • Flemish government invests • 5y x 25M€ = 125.000.000 € = doubling research budget overnight = creating critical mass • Framework agreement: • long term commitment • in depth evaluation every 5 year

12. Origin of the species VIB – create synergy • Framework agreement with universities • key output: scientific publications www.nature.com/reviews/genetics 752 / October 2004 / volume 5

13. Origin of the species VIB – create synergy • Framework agreement with universities • tech transfer: • IPR • joint ownership • management: VIB • costs: VIB • marketing/exploitation: VIB

14. Origin of the species VIB – create synergy • Framework agreement with universities • tech transfer - return € € € patent cost inventors VIB 50 VIB 50 univ 40 40 10 10 Department

15. Origin of the species VIB – create synergy • Framework agreement with universities • tech transfer – return UNIV : 10 + 40 + 40 = 90% VIB : 10 + 40 + 40 = 90%

16. Origin of the species VIB – key facts & figures • foundation : 1996 • legal entity : not-for-profit • field : life sciences • budget 2004 : ~ 60 mio € • headcount : ~ 850

17. origin of the species • mission & objectives • creating an innovative environment • is basic high quality research compatible with tech transfer?

18. Mission Molecular sciences to improve the quality of life

19. Objectives • conduct frontline basic research • translate inventions into products for the benefit of society • inform the public

20. origin of the species • mission & objectives • creating an innovative environment • is basic high quality research compatible with tech transfer?

21. VIB - Research Major fields: • Oncology • Cardiovascular/angiogenesis • Neurobiology • Inflammation/immunology • Developmental biology • Plant system biology • Microbiology

22. VIB - Research A20 ABIN TNF membrane TNF-R55 TNF-R75 TRADD Ub TRAF2 RIP IKK FADD Ub Ub IKK/  IKK / casp8 P P MAP3K P apoptosis P Ub P P IB IB p65 p50 p65 p50 nucleus NF-B dependent genes inflammation p65 p50

23. VIB - Research Novel treatment for IBD in clinical trial Recombinant L.lactis, expressing IL-10 Colitis ulcerosa Crohn’s disease healthy colon

24. VIB - Research VEGF promoter polymorphisms reduce VEGF expression VEGF d/d mice show adult onset ALS phenotype Reduced levels of VEGF increase the risk for ALS

25. 16O Arg C N 16O H 18O Arc C N 18O H VIB - ResearchQuantitative N-teromics Ex.: Heatmap of ratios of amino-terminal peptides for 700 IDs from T-Lymphocyte According to reverse phase chromatography position According to ratio (O18/O16)

26. VIB - Research

27. VIB – Tech Transfer Tech Transfer = Technology Transfer = Knowledge Transfer = the movement of knowledge between different parties = the transfer of knowledge from an academic institution to industry = patenting, licensing and establishing start-ups = mining of knowledge => optimize knowledge creation

28. recognise excellence • top performance => budget low performance => budget VIB - Research • Target : frontline • Create the environment: • excellence bonus • recruit internationally

29. VIB – Research international recognition • % internationalisation • 39 nationalities • 58% European countries • 23 % Asia • 11% N&S America • 6,5 % Africa • 1% Australia

30. VIB - Research • Target : frontline • Create the environment: • recognise excellence • up to date infrastructure

31. UGent-VIB research building

33. VIB - Research • Target : frontline • Create the environment: • recognise excellence • up to date infrastructure • access to advanced technology platforms

34. VIB microarrayfacility

35. VIB proteomics core facility (Source: PhD thesis Kris Gevaert, 2000)

36. VIB Genetic Service Facility • sequencing • STR-genotyping • SNP discovery • SNP analysis

37. yeast VIB technology – model organisms drosophila zebrafish xenopus mouse arabidopsis

38. VIB technologies Bio-informatics

39. VIB - Research • Target : frontline • Create the environment: • Stimulate debate and interaction • GLC • VIB seminar • VIB newsletter • science clubs • PhD program

40. VIB - Research • Quality assurance: • IAB

41. Institutional Advisory Board 2004

42. VIB - Research • Quality assurance • IAB • SAB • strategic plan • organigram [critical density]

43. VIB - Research

44. VIB - Research • Quality assurance • IAB • SAB • strategic plan • organigram • performance criteria

45. tech transfer ≥ 25 patent applications 50% granted ≥ 5 mio € industry funding VIB - Research Performance criteria: • scientifically ≥ 45 publications in IF > 10 journals ≥ 125 publications in IF > 5 journals • education ≥ 35 PhD’s

46. VIB - Research IF > 10 IF > 5 X 3.3 X 2.7

47. VIB – Tech Transfer research agreements existing companies records of invention IPR start-ups • facilitate the commercialisation of research results for the benefit of society • promote economic growth • job creation • generate research € to dept.

48. VIB – Tech Transfer Disclosure and recording of inventions Policy: • adapt to academic environment • pro-active • minimize administrative hurdles • treat with priority

49. VIB - Tech Transfer Inventions

50. 3 2,5 2 1,5 M €/ROI 1 0,5 0 V IB US Inst. Cal Tech Stanford Can. Inst. US Univ. ARCH VIB - Tech Transfer ROI-benchmark