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West Lafayette, Indiana
September 10, 2001
It's a gift of potential, which
could turn out to be one of the largest gifts in Purdue's
history.
DuPont has donated more than 30 U.S. and foreign patents for two
agricultural pesticides to the Purdue Research Foundation, said
Thomas Woods, the company's director of intellectual assets
management.
The announcement was made today as part of Discover Purdue Week,
which concludes Saturday (9/15) with the Purdue-Notre Dame
football game. Discover Purdue Week, in turn, kicks off a
yearlong campaign to help Hoosiers "Discover Purdue."
Gary Bennett, professor of entomology and director of Purdue's
Center for Urban and Industrial Pest Management, and entomology
research associate Abdul Ameen, will investigate these compounds
to determine if they are effective against pests such as ticks,
fleas, ants, cockroaches, mosquitoes, or other household or
garden pests.
"Although these pesticides were developed for agricultural
pests, because of the way they function, they show great promise
to control more familiar household pests," Bennett said. "I'm
confident that we will discover new uses for this technology."
Purdue President Martin C. Jischke added: "The Purdue Center for
Urban and Industrial Pest Management is a national leader in the
ability to screen promising pesticides for new markets. Dr.
Bennett excels in this type of research.
"In addition, Purdue was chosen for its business capabilities,
as well as its technical expertise. We have expertise in
intellectual property management, and we have the capability to
deliver on protection and licensing of the products."
The full value for the patent portfolios cannot yet be
accurately assessed because future uses of the products have yet
to be determined. However, Bennett said DuPont has made
significant investments in these two products during their
initial development, in tests of their safety and effectiveness,
and in preparing the U.S. and international patent applications.
The donation marks the first time Purdue has received such a
gift. In addition to the patent rights, Purdue also is receiving
toxicology and field data.
Although this is the first patent gift to Purdue, DuPont and its
subsidiary companies, such as Pioneer Hi-Bred International
Inc., have previously funded many Purdue research projects.
The two compounds ‹ one of which was designed to control beetles
and the other to control mites ‹ were found to be safe and
effective against agricultural pests, but DuPont determined that
the compounds were no longer a part of its strategic business
direction, Woods said.
Rather than entomb the research in a file cabinet, DuPont
decided to make the technology available so that it could
benefit Purdue and the general public.
Since DuPont first began giving technology donations in 1998, it
has contributed more than two dozen gifts to more than 20
research institutions, Woods said.
"In every case where DuPont makes technology donations, we look
for world-class research programs where our technology would be
a natural fit," Woods said. "Professor Bennett is a renowned
technical champion in urban pest control, so Purdue immediately
came to mind.
"The gift not only recognizes the exceptional quality of
Professor Bennett's research, but also provides an opportunity
to build upon and strengthen the already strong technical
relationship between Purdue and DuPont."
John Snyder, associate director of Purdue's Office of Technology
Commercialization, said the Purdue Research Foundation plans to
license the compounds to companies that can serve both
agricultural and household markets.
"When Dr. Bennett finds a promising application for the
pesticides, we will try to find a selected company that can
deliver it to the market," he said.
Purdue will not share any future license revenues from the
patents with DuPont because DuPont does not retain any further
rights to the technology.
DuPont is a science company, delivering science-based solutions
that make a difference in people's lives in food and nutrition,
health care, apparel, home and construction, electronics, and
transportation. Founded in 1802, the company operates in 70
countries and has 90,000 employees.
Gifts announced earlier during Discovery Week, which began
Friday (9/7), include:
- € $40 million to pair with
state, federal and other funds to build the $51 million Birck
Nanotechnology Center, the first portion of the university's
new Discovery Park. Michael and Katherine (Kay) Birck, of
Hinsdale, Ill., gave $30 million. Michael Birck is chairman of
Tellabs Inc., which develops and manufactures special
telecommunications equipment and is based in Lisle, Ill. Kay
Birck is head of nursing at Women's Healthcare of Hinsdale. He
is
originally from Clinton, Ind., and she is a native of Terre
Haute, Ind. Donald and Carol Scifres, natives of Greater
Lafayette, donated $10 million. Donald Scifres is co-chairman
of the board of JDS Uniphase Corp., an optical communications
company with dual headquarters in San Jose, Calif. and Ottawa,
Canada.
Later this week, several other
gifts will be announced:
- A gift to support research and
scholarships.
- A gift of real estate.
- Another gift to support
Discovery Park, which will be a hub of interdisciplinary
research and education. In addition to the nanotechnology
facility, the park will include buildings for research
involving bioscience/engineering and e-enterprises. An
entrepreneurship center will
help students and faculty learn how to pursue real-world
applications for the technologies they develop.
- A gift to help retain and
attract leading faculty.
- Another gift involving the $70
million Ross-Ade Stadium renovation project.
Writer: Steve Tally, (765)
494-9809;
tally@aes.purdue.edu
Sources:
Gary Bennett, (765) 494-4564;
gbennett@purdue.edu
Martin C. Jischke, (765) 494-9708
Thomas Woods, (309) 999-2246
John Snyder, (765) 494-2610;
jrsnyder@purdue.edu
Related Web sites:
Purdue Center for Urban and Industrial Pest Management:
http://www.entm.purdue.edu/Entomology/urban/home.htm
Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization:
http://www.otc.purdue.edu/
DuPont: http://www.dupont.com/
Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc.:
http://www.pioneer.com/
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Jeanne Norberg, director
Purdue University News Service
1132 Engineering Admin. Bldg.
West Lafayette, IN 47907-1132
Phone: 765-494-2096
E-mail: jnorberg@purdue.edu
Purdue University news release
N3788
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