SEMINAR: Science and commercialization

The Seminar: The goal of this presentation is to make the scientific and medical communities aware of the pressures to merge their efforts into developing business opportunities and intellectual properties. If one considers that scientists and physicians likely represent the top five percent of intelligencia in society, it does seem reasonable to call on this community to focus energies on technology development to support job creation and tax revenues for governments. This presentation will address some of these issues and concerns with merging academia and the business world.

The Speaker: Dr. Bloebaum was a pararescueman in the USAF and served in Vietnam. Upon leaving the service, he completed his Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Lindenwood University. He was awarded the Rotary International Scholarship in 1976 and chose the University of Western Australia where he completed his PhD in Human Biology and Anatomy. He did his postdoctoral fellowship at UCLA in the Department of Orthopaedics. His first academic appointment as an Assistant Professor at the University of Southern California (1980-1983). He became a Research Assistant Professor at Arizona State and Director of Basic Research at the Harrington Arthritis Research Center from 1984-1987. In 1987 Dr. Bloebaum moved to the University of Utah where he became Co-Director of the Bone and Joint Research Lab and eventual Research Professor of Orthopaedics, Bioengineering and Biology. He was awarded the Margret and Albert Hofmann Chair in Orthopaedic Research in 1996. His research interests have been in skeletal attachment of implants to bone, bone adaptation, biomaterials, scanning electron microscopy, tissue-implant interfaces, total joint replacement, implant forensics, osteolysis, and articular cartilage. He has directed a research team at the University of Utah to develop an osseointegrated implant system for warfighters and veteran amputees since 2005. He has served in numerous review panels (NIH, DOD, VA). His military decorations and awards include: Distinguished Fly Cross, Air medals (three oak leaf clusters), Vietnam Service Medal. Academic: Sirot Prize, Paul B. Magnuson Award, Clemson Award in Applied Research.