Nominations sought for Baxendale Innovation Award

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas seeks nominations for its fourth annual James Baxendale Innovation Award. It recognizes a researcher or research group at any KU campus for excellence in entrepreneurship and commercialization.

“Part of KU’s mission is making discoveries that change the world,” said Julie Nagel, associate vice chancellor for innovation & entrepreneurship. “Commercialization benefits people and grows the Kansas economy. This award is a singular honor for innovative researchers with a translational vision. It showcases those who excel at moving KU research discoveries from the laboratory to the marketplace.”

The Baxendale Award is named in honor of KU’s former commercialization director. It is sponsored by KU Innovation & Collaboration, the unit led by Nagel that manages KU’s entrepreneurship and economic development efforts. Previous recipients of the award are Professor Lisa Stehno-Bittel, Department of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation, KU Medical Center; Professor Cory Berkland, departments of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Chemical & Petroleum Engineering; Associate Professor Laird Forrest, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, and Dan Aires, director of the Division of Dermatology at KU Medical Center. All have successfully launched startup companies in Kansas.

Anyone can submit a nomination online. Nominators should provide detail on how the nominee has demonstrated excellence in commercialization, including:

      Descriptions of innovations/technologies developed by the nominee(s);

      Effect of the technology, from the research and product perspectives;

      List of disclosures, patents, licenses (invented and assigned to KU); and

      Examples of major milestones toward external validation and marketplace achievement.

The nomination deadline is Sept. 26. The recipient will be announced Oct. 10 at a special reception following KU’s half-day Celebration of Innovation: A Start-Up Showcase at the Adams Alumni Center in Lawrence. Registration for that event can also be submitted online.