OLYMPIA, Wash. – Washington State University’s evolving efforts to develop new technologies and innovations and bring them into the commercial marketplace took center stage Thursday evening on the statewide cable network TVW program, “Inside Olympia.”
The segment on WSU began with a feature on a recent effort by WSU to commercialize a cheek swab DNA testing procedure for a specific dog breed which allows owners to determine whether the dog possesses a particular, life threatening genetic sensitivity to certain medications.
In a conversation with program host Austin Jenkins, WSU Vice President for Development and CEO of the WSU Foundation John Gardner and WSU Associate Vice President for Economic Development Anson Fatland, went on to discuss how WSU’s land-grant university focus on conducting research for the public good has evolved in recent years.
Gardner said WSU has historically been involved in passing on to the public both the scientific and economic benefits of many types of university research. He contrasted those efforts, however, with the approach WSU intends to pursue with developments such as the canine DNA testing kit.
“This is a more formalized way to package intellectual property, essentially monetize it, and pass it on to the marketplace, he said.
The full program can be seen online at http://www.tvw.org/index.php?option=com_tvwplayer&eventID=2015020054.