The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and The University of New Mexico (UNM) have maintained a collaborative partnership for nearly 30 years, resulting in jointly owned patents from shared research and the development of startups spurred by that research.
The U.S Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Research & Development (ORD) oversees the VA’s Technology Transfer Program. ORD has been working to improve the lives of Veterans and Americans for the past 100 years. TTP’s goal is to support VA employees, protect intellectual property, and pave the way for VA inventions to become commercially successful products and services to benefit Veterans and the public.
VA research stands out due to its unique strengths: a targeted focus on health issues that directly affect Veterans, the voluntary participation of thousands of VA patients in clinical studies each year, and a deeply integrated research infrastructure supported by partnerships with academic institutions and hospitals across the country. To help translate these research discoveries into real-world clinical applications, the VA’s Technology Transfer Program plays a crucial role in facilitating commercialization and partnerships.
There are currently 102 active research sites nationwide and 7,278 active funded research projects. Additionally, numerous medical centers have formal affiliations with academic institutions and hospitals, and many full- and part-time VA employees also hold academic appointments or are employed at an affiliated academic institution or hospital. As a result, most VA inventions are jointly owned by VA and its academic affiliates.
One such collaborative partner is UNM Rainforest Innovations (UNMRI), the technology transfer and economic development arm for the University of New Mexico. UNMRI works closely with the VA to manage and commercialize jointly owned technologies resulting from their shared research efforts. To date, there are 61 jointly owned technologies and over the years 9 startup companies have been launched to bring some of these innovations to market.
“Our collaborations with academic partners like the University of New Mexico are critical to translating research discoveries into real-world solutions for both Veterans and the general public,” said Dr. John Kaplan, JD, Director of the Technology Transfer Program.
One successful startup, MycoBiotix, is developing innovative therapeutics and medical foods to restore gut microbiome balance and treat dysbiosis-related disorders. By targeting the microbiome, a vital system influencing numerous health outcomes, the startup aims to address a wide range of diseases linked to microbial imbalances.
Another startup is YEEO Eco-Safe, Inc., which is developing a non-toxic, eco-friendly mosquito larvicide that utilizes a patented process to encapsulate essential oils in yeast, thereby stabilizing them. This innovation delivers effective, fast-acting mosquito control without harming the surrounding ecosystem or other beneficial insects. Affordable and scalable, YEEO offers a sustainable alternative for both public health agencies and pest control businesses.
“Our long-standing partnership with the VA has been greatly successful in moving innovations from the lab to the marketplace,” said Lisa Kuuttila, CEO & Chief Economic Development Officer of UNM Rainforest Innovations. “And we look forward to building on this momentum for even more impact in the future.”
To learn more about VA research and innovation, visit VA Technology Transfer Program.