April 13, 2021

Attendance: All committee members are present

[Through Teams] Brenda Nichols, Jeremy Alltop, Phil Cole, Robert K. Bradley, Emily Born

[Face-to-Face] Jerry Lin, Tracy Benson, Ian Lian, Brett Welch

I. Call meeting to order by Jerry Lin at 11:04am

II. Welcome: Jerry Lin

III. Update on patent application – Dr. Daniel Chen, Flue gas reburning for CO2 and NOx emission reduction

Jerry Lin provides update on the process for Dr. Chen’s patent application and provisional filing. The provisional filing has an expiration data on July 30, 2021. An external industrial partner is interested in the technology and has executed an NDA with Lamar University. Funding is sought for full patent application before the July 30 deadline from an external investor, according to the policies and procedures of TSUS. Proposed terms are (1) LU owns the patent, and (2) LU grants an external investor to exclusively market, use, license and further develop the technology for 10 years, if patented. The revenue generated from the technology will first cover the cost of provisional and full patent applications. The profits and royalties earned beyond the cost of patent applications will be shared by Lamar University (50%) and an external investor (50%). ORSPA will oversee the process.

The committee unanimously agrees with the proposed terms. ORSPA will enter the negotiation with an external investor and proceed with the full patent application based on the mutually agreed-upon terms. The cost will be fully paid for by an external investor.

IV. New disclosure – Dr. (Robert) Kelly Bradley, Alignment of Dry as Produced Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes

Jerry Lin: Opens the discussion on Dr. Bradley’s invention disclosure based on a desk review and literature investigation of the merit of the disclosed technology. It is a novel methodology to align carbon nanotubes. He invites Dr. Bradley to give a brief synopsis of the disclosure to the committee, followed by the deliberation of the IPC members.  

Kelly Bradley: provides background information regarding his invention. It is noted that the methodology requires more scientific data for implementation, but it is a good proof of concept.

Committee members (Drs. Phil Cole, Ian Lian and Tracy Benson) ask questions about the invention and the associated procedures. Kelly Bradley and Jerry Lin address the questions correspondingly.

Jerry Lin: The committee will make recommendations to President Evans on the following two questions:

1. Whether or not LU has an ownership interest in the disclosed invention?

The committee unanimously agrees that LU has an ownership interest since the work was funded internally through the Office of Undergraduate Research.

2. If “YES” to Question (1), whether and how LU should assert and exploit its ownership interest in the disclosed invention? 

The committee unanimously agrees that LU will assert its ownership interest. It is also unanimously agreed that ORSPA will engage the PI (Dr. Bradley) and facilitate the process to seek potential external investors to fund the patent applications.

Brenda Nichols: I think this plan sounds great to move forward.

Jeremy Alltop: I agree.

Jerry Lin: I will draft a memo of recommendations to President Evans for his review and final decision.

V. Round Table

No additional items.

Meeting adjourned at 11:39pm.