Caltech, UCLA and USC remain plugged into tomorrow with technology transfer programs that help inventors dream up, develop and take products to market.
UCLA: MICROSKIA INC.
Product: Portable microscope
Chief Executive: Neven Karlovac
Year Founded: 2009
Location: West Los Angeles
What Is It?
Neven Karlovac: Professor Aydogan Ozcan and his team have invented a technology for a very small, light optical microscope suitable as an inexpensive attachment to a cell phone or a portable instrument. Applications include medical diagnostics for doctors’ offices or remote patient monitoring, telemedicine, health and disease diagnostics for resource-limited countries, water-quality monitoring and research instrumentation.
What was the idea that led to the creation of the company?
We believe we can make a significant contribution to improve health care.
What were the biggest challenges?
Patents are a time-consuming and expensive process. Help from UCLA’s office of intellectual property was invaluable.
Why was it born at a university?
Because it is based on very advanced technology and UCLA is where research is done. Besides, Aydogan and I met at UCLA.
What’s been the biggest change since spinning off?
Funding, finding the right people, and wet lab facilities.
How could it change society?
Very low-cost diagnostic devices will bring diagnostics closer to the patient, resulting in lower health care costs, better outcomes and patient comfort.
What’s next?
Product launch is next year!