Each year researchers at McMaster, Hamilton Health Sciences, and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton make new discoveries that lead to new products, services, or process improvements to help companies expand their pipeline or increase their productivity. Committed to placing that knowledge in the hands of those who can put it to its best use, our Commercialization Mandate Framework Policy outlines the university’s guiding principles and the supporting infrastructure that ensures effective management of intellectual property (IP) created at the institutions. The business development team at the McMaster Industry Liaison Office (MILO) are here to help access these discoveries. Our objective is to support effective transfer of these technologies to companies for social and economic benefit and enable the continued growth of research excellence at the institutions.
Technologies Available for Licensing
Carbonic Anhydrase-Catalyzed Isotope Equilibrium for Oxygen Isotope Analysis of Aqueous Samples:
A method to significantly reduce the reaction time for oxygen isotope studies of aqueous samples from 24h to less than 1h.
New Chemistry to Recycle Vulcanized Rubbers Back to Organic Polymers:
A mild and efficient method to recover organic polymers originally used to make a tire which can then be reused to create new products.
Seismic Mitigation Using a Novel Elastomeric Isolator:
A base isolation technology to mitigate the effects of earthquakes on low-rise buildings in high seismic regions.
A Novel Tool Surface Treatment for Wear and Chipping Improvements:
A method of coating the tool with a soft metal coating that is capable of melting and functioning as an in-situ liquid lubricant during the machining operation.
New Chemistry to Recycle Vulcanized Rubbers Back to Organic Polymers:
A mild and efficient method to recover organic polymers originally used to make a tire which can then be reused to create new products.
METHOD FOR DETERMINING COAGULATION ACTIVATION IN WHOLE BLOOD:
Measuring coagulation activation, including thrombin generation, is useful in a number of clinical conditions. McMaster researchers have developed a novel method and class of substrates to do this using whole blood, for instance from a finger prick, using conventional fluorescence equipment.
BIOMARKERS OF CF FOR BETTER SCREENING AND THERAPEUTIC TREATMENTS:
A panel of CF-specific biomarkers from blood spot extracts and sweat samples for CF screening and guide discovery of new molecular targets.
COMPREHENSIVE ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE DATABASE:
A bioinformatic database of resistance genes, their products and associated phenotypes. Resource for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance in healthcare, agriculture and environmental settings.
TREATMENT OF BREAST CANCER:
Dronedarone is an FDA-approved drug that has shown anti-cancer activity in breast cancer cell cultures, sphere forming assays and in mice.
PLANT DERIVED PHARMACOLOGICAL CHAPERONES FOR TREATMENT OF PKU:
These plant-derived natural products offer a safe, yet effective, therapeutic treatment of PKU via nutritional supplementation.
LABORATORY SCORES FOR RISK STRATIFICATION OF PATIENTS WITH POSSIBLE CARDIAC INJURY:
Using important biochemical parameters to accurately determine the risk of an acute cardiovascular event or death with easy interpretation.
SEPSIS PROGNOSTIC TOOL TO CREATE PERSONALIZED MORTALITY RISK PROFILES:
A predictive algorithm for assessing personalized sepsis-related mortality risk profiles of septic patients with utility for both clinical trials and patient care.
ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE PLATFORM:
The antibiotic resistance platform (ARP) can be used for both the identification of antibiotic adjuvants and for antibiotic dereplication.
ASSAY TO MEASURE FACTOR XA INHIBITORS IN BLOOD AND PLASMA:
This assay can test both plasma and citrated whole blood to allow for simple, on-demand usage in hospital labs.
LABORATORY SCORE FOR PREDICTING CARDIO-TOXICITY:
A novel algorithm to detect risk of cardio-toxicity using a combination of easily detectible cardiac biomarkers in the blood.
LOCAL INFUSION OF IMMUNO-THERAPEUTICS (LIIT):
A platform technology with hydrogels that can sustain and localize antibody/protein release, relevant to a wide variety of clinical applications.
ADENOVIRUS SPRAY DRYING:
A robust method for preparing a thermally stable adenovirus formulation, extending the possible applications of adenovirus-based vectors as thermally stable vaccines.
RAPID, ACCURATE AND SENSITIVE MOLECULAR SYSTEMS TO DETECT PATHOGENIC CANDIDA SPECIES:
A rapid, efficient and low-cost nucleic acid identification tool for pathogenic Candida in human test samples with clinical relevance, increased accuracy and reliability.
ANTIBACTERIAL PHAGE HYDROGELS:
A self-healing and auto fluorescent hydrogel made entirely of bacteriophage can be used for a variety of medical and environmental applications.
NON-INVASIVE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT MONITORING OF INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE:
A reliable, low-cost method for the diagnosis of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis using urinary biomarkers offering a minimally invasive strategy for early detection.
ENHANCING ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY USING BICARBONATE:
Using bicarbonate to potentiate the activity of antibiotics and develop novel therapies.
BRUSH AMPHIPHILIC BLOCK COPOLYMERS FOR DRUG DELIVERY:
Brush amphiphilic block copolymers for drug delivery and other biomedical applications.
Printable Enzyme-Stabilizing Hydrogels for Biosensing and Drug Discovery:
A printable in-situ hydrogel-based drug screening platform for HTS that can discriminate between true and “promiscuous” inhibitors.
Gene signature for diagnosing kidney, prostate and adrenal carcinomas:
Gene signature biomarker for diagnosing the progression and prognosis of kidney, prostate and adrenal carcinomas.
NOVEL B-LACTAMASE INHIBITOR:
A unique inhibitor of metallo-B-lactamases that can be used to re-sensitize antibiotic resistant bacteria to B-lactam antibiotics.
Thermo-Gel Polymer System for Improved Ophthalmic Drug Delivery:
Thermo-responsive eyedrops for controlled degradation and sustained drug delivery.
A STOCHASTIC MODEL FOR SIMULATING IMMUNE RESPONSE:
A mathematical system that describes how T-cells in the omentum respond when encountering antigens arising from either infection or vaccination of various kinds.
Back2Play – Development of a Concussion Management Platform for Children and Youth: Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice:
A comprehensive concussion management platform that monitors and evaluates symptoms in real-time.
Serum Biomarkers for Early Detection and Staging of Peripheral Artery Disease:
A screening strategy that utilizes serum biomarkers that differentiate late-stage chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) from early-onset intermittent claudication (IC) for a more accurate diagnosis and risk assessment of peripheral artery disease.
Gene Signature for Predicting Progression and Prognosis of Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma:
A novel multigene signature panel that robustly predicts papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC) metastasis and fatality as well as pRCC prognosis and progression, and further identified potential treatment avenues for personalized or targeted therapies.
Novel Diagnostic Biomarker for Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBSD):
A novel non-surgical diagnostic biomarker for diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel disease (IBSD) that can distinguish from IBD and normal patients who do not have IBSD, instead of invasive colonoscopies and biopsies.
Novel High-Throughput Method for Vitamin D Screening:
A high-throughput method for assessing vitamin D status from blood specimens based on direct-infusion tandem mass spectrometry that offers better precision and accuracy that immunoassays.
Psychiatry Handbook:
A mobile psychiatry handbook containing evidence-supported approaches to psychiatric emergencies, substance intoxication and withdrawal, and various psychiatric symptoms.
Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) Application:
A mobile clinical tool designed to evaluate gross motor function changes in children with cerebral palsy.
MyTransition Application:
The MyTransition app aims to help children 12-18 slowly take responsibility for their healthcare and improve communication with physicians.
Beyond Silence Application:
A mental health literacy training program customized for healthcare workers designed to promote early intervention and support within the workplace for any employee across the organization who may be struggling with mental health issues. Visit https://www.beyondsilence.ca/about-us/ for more information.
Geras Fit-Frailty Application:
A mobile screening tool for frailty in older adults that can be completed by their caregivers or by a healthcare professional in a clinical environment. Visit https://www.gerascentre.ca/fit-frailty-app/ for more information.
MyEXP Application:
A suite of apps that gathers experiences of mental health service users, family/caregivers and service providers following each appointment. Visit the app store for MyEXP Application.
Evidence Alerts Application:
A convenient notification system to ensure physicians stay up to date on all new studies, treatment advances and new prognosis methods. Visit https://www.evidencealerts.com/ for more information.
MAC-PMSS Application:
An app to track mood and premenstrual symptoms so users can see if their symptoms are severe enough to bring them to healthcare providers.
MyCBDR – Canadian Blood Disorder Registry Tracker Application:
A mobile hemophilia tracker that circumvents the need to log bleeds and treatments on paper manually. Users can also transmit logs to their care team. Visit the App Store or Google Play for MyCBDR.
Electrochemical biosensor for PEDv:
A rapid, simple, and reagent-less platform for on-farm detection of PEDv.
Low-cost modular system for live-cell microscopy:
A system that uses 3D printing technology to rapidly prototype and design live-cell imaging experiments.
ANTIMICROBIAL PHAGE MICROGEL SPRAYS FOR BACTERIAL CONTROL
A biomolecule-friendly, high-throughput method to synthesize sprayable phage microgels to control the growth of microorganisms in food products and other biocontrol scenarios.
Gene expression signature for predicting response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) cancer therapy
A novel multigene and individual gene panels that can effectively predict response to ICB therapy.
PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL DNA BIOSENSING USING METAL SEMICONDUCTOR NANOPARTICLES
A novel PEC DNA biosensor method that uses DNA to create a gap between metal and semiconductor nanoparticles.
Discovery of a potent antiviral agent
A unique small molecule can be used in the treatment of DNA and RNA viruses with limited host cell cytotoxicity.
Artificial Placenta:
The world’s first passive lung assist device designed to be pumped by the baby’s heart and capable of gas exchange in ambient air.
Neonatal Laryngoscope:
A laryngoscope designed specifically for neonatal anatomy, allowing for safer, more efficient intubation and improved vision of the larynx.
Enhanced Photodiodes for Sensing and Communication:
Differential Single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs).
Constrained Shrinking of Pre-Stressed Films to Achieve High-Resolution Nanoscale Patterns:
Nanoscale formation pattern that allows for high-resolution uniform patterns for industrial applications such as semiconductor manufacturing, microsystems, and optoelectronics. This can also be applied to developing optical structures or a potential replacement for deep UV and phase shift masking technologies.
Basadur Innovation Profile:
The Basadur Profile is a proven assessment tool validated by research that provides insight into how people and teams prefer to think during the innovation process.
Basadur Simplexity Thinking:
Simplexity is an innovative thinking & creative problem-solving process that separates innovation into clearly-defined steps, and can be defined as a framework that combines knowledge, process, skills needed to enable successful innovation.
Basadur Challenge Mapping:
The purpose of Challenge Mapping is to uncover and clarify the different problems and subproblems lurking within a complex ill-defined situation, and to understand how they relate to one another; the Challenge Mapping Process also enables organizations significantly improve the success rate of new projects.
Basadur Telescoping:
Telescoping is a three-stage tool used in the evaluation step of the two-step ideation-evaluation process of creative problem-solving, applied after a group has completed generating solution ideas.
Basadur Team InQ (Innovation Quotient) Survey:
The InQ survey, or Innovation Quotient, assesses the quality of your team’s problem-solving and innovation and measures attitudes, skills, and behaviours, assigning a rating on one of 5 levels to indicate where improvements can be made.
Basadur Publications:
Min Basadur, professor emeritus of McMaster’s DeGroote School of Business, is the author of several reference texts and practical guides in the field of applied creativity. A summary of each of these books is available.
COPYRIGHT MATERIALS AVAILABLE
A wide range of validated quality of life (QOL) questionnaires, surveys, and tools for
Disease and Health Conditions
Child Development
Data Analysis
Professional Development Training
CARD (COMPREHENSIVE ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE DATABASE):
A bioinformatic database of resistance genes, their products and associated phenotypes. The CARD is a rigorously curated collection of characterized, peer-reviewed resistance determinants and associated antibiotics, organized by the Antibiotic Resistance Ontology (ARO) and AMR gene detection models. The CARD includes tools for analysis of molecular sequences, including BLAST and the Resistance Gene Identifier (RGI) software for prediction of resistome based on homology and SNP models.
If you are a commercial organization interested in CARD, please complete the License Request Form to obtain a quote.
IBDQ (INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE QUESTIONNAIRE):
The IBDQ is the gold standard in inflammatory bowel disease research. It is a validated tool to measure health-related quality of life in adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn’s Disease. In addition to the full version of the IBDQ, there is also a short version (SIBDQ) containing 10 of the 32 questions.
PDAI (PERIANAL DISEASE ACTIVITY INDEX):
The PDAI is a validated index that quantifies disease severity and is able to detect important changes in perianal disease. It uses a simple five-point index, which is easy to administer in a variety of settings.
GMFM (GROSS MOTOR FUNCTION MEASURE):
The GMFM is an assessment tool designed and evaluated to measure changes in gross motor function over time or with intervention in children with cerebral palsy. There are two versions of the GMFM. The GMFM-88 is the original 88-item measure. Items span the spectrum of gross motor activities in five dimensions: Lying and Rolling, Sitting, Crawling and Kneeling, Standing, and Walking, Running and Jumping.
CRQ (CHRONIC RESPIRATORY DISEASE QUESTIONNAIRE) ORIGINAL INTERVIEWER ADMINISTERED VERSION (16 MINUTES):
The CRQ is a validated instrument used to measure health-related quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic airflow limitations. Patients report their dyspnea, fatigue, and emotional function during important daily activities.
CRQ-IAS INTERVIEWER-ADMINISTERED STANDARDIZED VERSION (8 MINUTES):
Based on the original CRQ, the main distinction with the CRQ-IAS is that there is no need for eliciting activities that cause shortness of breath, because all respondents are asked to answer five questions about shortness of breath during certain activities that are the same for all respondents, but still requires an interviewer to administer the questionnaire.
CRQ-SAI SELF-ADMINISTERED CRQ INCLUDING THE INDIVIDUALIZED DYSPNEA DOMAIN (16 MINUTES):
Based on the original CRQ, the CRQ-SAI contains individualized questions about dyspnea. The main distinction with the CRQ-SAI is that the questionnaire can be completed by the respondent in absence of an interviewer but is otherwise unchanged in content and order of the questions.
CRQ-SAS SELF-ADMINISTERED CRQ INCLUDING THE STANDARDIZED DYSPNEA DOMAIN (8 MINUTES):
Based on the original CRQ, the CRQ-SAS contains standardized dyspnea questions. The main distinctions with the CRQ-SAS is that the questionnaire can be completed by the respondent in absence of an interviewer and there is no need for eliciting activities that cause shortness of breath, because all respondents are asked to answer five questions about shortness of breath during certain activities that are the same for all respondents.
CLEFT-Q (CLEFT QUESTIONNAIRE):
The CLEFT-Q is a rigorously developed patient-reported outcome (PRO) measure that can be used to collect and compare evidence-based outcomes data from patients ages 8 to 29 years with cleft lip and/or palate. The CLEFT-Q measures 3 overarching domains: Appearance, Facial function and Health-related quality of life. Each domain is composed of 1 or more independently functioning scales. Clinicians and researchers are able to administer the subset of scales relevant to their situation.
TRANSITION-Q:
The TRANSITION-Q is a psychometrically sound and clinically meaningful scale that can be used in transition programmes with adolescents starting at 12 years of age to measure and track the development of skills they need to acquire to manage their health and healthcare. The content of the scale was designed to include a range of skills that vary from those that even young adolescents should be able to do (e.g., answer a doctor’s or nurse’s questions) to skills that may require instruction or training (e.g., book a clinical appointment).
BODY-Q:
The BODY-Q is a rigorously designed patient-reported outcome measure that can be used to evaluate outcomes for obesity, weight loss treatments (e.g., diet, exercise, and bariatric surgery/medicine), and body contouring to remove excess skin after massive weight loss and for cosmetic reasons. The BODY-Q measures 4 overarching domains: Appearance, Health-related quality of life, Eating-related concerns and Experience of care.
EAR-Q:
The EAR-Q is a rigorously designed patient-reported outcome measure that can be used to collect and compare evidence-based outcomes data from patients ages 8 to 29 years with any kind of ear condition. The EAR-Q includes 2 ear-specific scales. One scale measures how the ear(s) look from the patient perspective. The other scale measures adverse effects following ear treatment. There are also 3 single items that ask about how ear scars look and feel and how hearing aids look. The EAR-Q also includes 4 scales that measure aspects of health-related quality of life. Clinicians and researchers are able to administer the subset of scales relevant to their situation.
FACE-Q CRANIOFACIAL MODULE:
FACE-Q Craniofacial Module is a rigorously developed patient-reported outcome measure that can be used to collect and compare evidence-based outcomes data from patients aged 8 to 29 years with a visible and/or functional facial difference. For patients with facial paralysis, there is no upper age limit. Craniofacial module includes 27 scales/checklists. It covers 4 domains: appearance, function, health-related quality of life, and adverse effects. Each domain is composed of multiple independently functioning scales.
SCAR-Q:
The SCAR-Q is a rigorously developed patient-reported outcome measure for children and adults aged ages 8 years and older with any type of surgical, traumatic and/or burns scar. The SCAR-Q has 3 independently functioning scales that measure scar appearance, scar symptoms and psychosocial impact. One or more scales can be used depending on the outcomes of interest in any given study or clinical situation.
ACNE-Q:
The ACNE-Q represents the first rigorously developed acne-specific patient-reported outcome measure to provide a set of scales for patients to report how their skin, acne (facial, back, and chest) and acne scars look. These concepts are important to include in clinical trials of treatments to improve or clear acne, to prevent and improve acne scarring, or to prevent future outbreaks. The ACNE-Q conceptual framework covers 3 concepts within 2 top-level domains. These concepts are measured via 7 independently functioning scales. Clinicians and researchers are able to administer the subset of scales relevant to their situation.
BREAST-Q NEW SCALES:
The BREAST-Q new scales include 4 scales for breast reconstruction patients (3 breast sensation scales and 1 animation deformity scale), and 3 new scales for breast cancer patients (cancer worry, fatigue, impact on work).