Nominations sought for Baxendale Innovation Award

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas seeks nominations for its third 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, interim associate vice chancellor for innovation and 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 Lisa Stehno-Bittel, professor, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science at the KU Medical Center; and Cory Berkland, professor, departments of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at the Lawrence campus. Both 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);
• Impact 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. 25. The recipient will be announced Oct. 7 at a special reception following KU’s half-day “Celebration of Innovation: A Start-Up Showcase” at the Bioscience & Technology Business Center in Lawrence. Registration for that event can also be submitted online.