Enterprising Faculty Researchers Advised on Industry Relations

The Office of Research and Graduate Education is offering more services and increased support for faculty members in managing products of research. Their services include information on policies regarding technology transfer, outside consulting, and conflicts of interest.

Dr. Albert Berger, associate dean for research and graduate education, heads the Office of Research and Graduate Education, formerly the Office of Scientific Affairs. The office continues its traditional functions of managing research policies and acting as the clearinghouse for all the medical school's grants and contracts. Moreover, the office has recently undergone a reorganization to provide additional services. It has three new divisions:

• Industry Relations, headed by Susan Wray, is responsible for helping faculty learn how to work with outside companies and for promoting the commercialization of research discoveries. A new monthly seminar series called "Things Your Mother Never Taught You," addresses UW policies and the market realities faculty encounter when they set out to transfer research products to the marketplace.
  
  
• Research and Industry Relations Support, headed by attorney Michael Corn, reviews requests for professional outside employment, advises on research-related conflict-of-interest issues and ethics law compliance, approves research contracts and helps in research policy development. Corn is the former senior assistant to the UW vice provost for research on the main UW campus. Corn has had extensive experience as an attorney for publicly owned business and technology companies and as an advisor on legal affairs at Portland State University.
  
  
• Clinical Research is headed by Dr. Evan Kharasch, professor and vice chair of anesthesiology. Kharasch will develop clinical research policies, serve as a liaison between the School of Medicine and the University-wide Human Subjects Division, and set up educational forums for faculty members who want to pursue human subjects research. Kharash holds the newly created position of assistant dean for clinical research.