Success Story
Kansas City-area developmental neurobiologist works to develop and commercialize osteoporosis drug
Dr. Debra Ellies, an expert in developmental neurobiology, today is diligently at work in her Kansas City-area laboratory developing a new drug to fight the degenerative bone disease osteoporosis.
Her intention is not only to develop a treatment for osteoporosis. She also wants to commercialize it. However, while she's well-versed in her highly complex biotechnical field, Dr. Ellies knows she falls short in business savvy. Hence, she consults experts to help her convert the fruits of her research into commercial applications.
In the quest to develop a new drug treatment for osteoporosis, Dr. Debra Ellies draws cell culture media into a reservoir at her research lab.
In 2004, Ellies met one of those experts – Suman Saripalli, a small business technology counselor based at UMKC's Small Business & Technology Development Center. Saripalli urged her to apply for a federal Small Business Innovative Research grant. SBIR stipends are designed to fund initial research efforts in commercially promising fields of study that are of interest to specific federal agencies. In Ellies' case the National Institutes of Health was her target agency.
"Suman convinced me to apply for an SBIR Phase I grant," says Ellies. "As an academic scientist, business has always been frowned upon, and Suman showed me a way that an academic could ask NIH for funds to support my business vision."
After receiving SBIR funding from NIH, Ellies formally established her research company OsteoGeneX Inc. last June, with the collaborative support of the Higuchi Bioscience Center at the University of Kansas.
"I wanted to be involved in translational research and biotech commercialization," say Ellies. "This was the right opportunity."
The goal of Ellies' R&D work at OsteoGeneX is to identify a lead compound and to successfully complete preclinical and clinical phases in order to file a new drug application with the federal Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of osteoporosis and other bone disorders.
"Now, my Phase I SBIR has been successful and I am in a position to take this vision to completion with the support of all my great mentors," says Ellies.
With Saripalli's help she has been able to answer the question she grappled with "How can an academic follow a business path for seeking funding?" He assisted her with business grant writing and budget preparation.
"Suman has been instrumental in helping me with my Phase I application and a future Phase II. In addition, he has helped me network to facilitate my success."
While Ellies has a long way to go to achieve her ultimate goal of developing an osteoporosis drug treatment, she has overcome a significant hurdle on her path to commercialization of her research.
Your local Small Business Development Center can help with your business success. Appointments may be made for free consultations on small business issues by contacting the SBDC office near you.
This complete article with more photos is archived at www.missouribusiness.net/success/osteogenex.asp.
Business Going Green
Springfield center meets electronics disposal needs of the 21st Century
Did you know a conventional computer monitor (not a flat panel) contains about four pounds of lead? Did you know that electronic circuit boards and solder contain lead, mercury, chromium, cadmium and other hazardous materials that can leach into the surrounding environment if the equipment is carelessly discarded?
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that as many as 500 million computers will have been scrapped between 2000 and 2007, as businesses and individuals upgrade existing systems. The EPA promotes reuse and recycling as alternatives to disposal in landfills.
The Computer Recycling Center in Springfield, Mo., recognized a business opportunity and an environmental need. Operating since 2001, the center recycles more than 70,000 pounds of “e-waste” a month from all over Missouri, and the company expects that amount to double over the next year.
CRC accepts electronic devices from government agencies, universities and schools, organizations, businesses and individuals. The center currently takes monitors, televisions, PCs, mice, keyboards, printers, scanners, speakers, cell phones and various other e-waste items. A monitor/television disposal fee may apply to cover costs associated with proper recycling. The center is sensitive to security issues and all asset tags are destroyed in the process. Pick-up service is offered for a nominal fee, based on location and volume of e-waste.
For more information on the Computer Recycling Center, visit its Web site at www.computerrecyclingcenter.org.
Staples, Inc. is also accepting most electronics from small businesses and consumers at all U.S. stores for a small fee. There is no fee for peripherals such as keyboards, mice and speakers.
For more e-recycling sites, visit the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ list at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/hwp/computerlist.htm
Businesses That Scrutinize Expenditures May be Surprised
Post-tax-time evaluation
Totaling expenses at tax time can be a real wake up call, according to Betty Lorton, recently retired business development specialist with University of Missouri Extension.
"It can be surprising when you truly scrutinize where and how your money is being spent," says Lorton. "Answering a series of questions will help a business owner decide what costs are essential to meeting profit goals and which ones are unnecessary and could be eliminated."
First, ask employees to answer in rank order what benefits other than salary have been most essential and beneficial to them personally? Answering this helps determine which benefits and perks are non-essential. Maybe employees really don't care about getting a Christmas turkey (or other "traditional" perks). Instead, they may place great value on a performance-based bonus connected to yearly profits.
"You won't know unless you ask," Lorton says. "Allow anonymity and encourage their honest feedback and comments."
A second consideration: what products and services add the greatest value to customers, employees, suppliers, and stakeholders? Lorton's response: "What products and services add the least value? If you're not sure, then ask."
Third, what administrative tasks add the greatest value to customers, employees, suppliers, and stakeholders? What administrative tasks add the least value? "Eliminate all of those tasks that add little or no value," says the veteran business specialist.
Four: What professional development opportunities are essential to the continuous improvement of your products and services? "Some professional development is necessary. Depending on your type of business this can be a major business expense. But at the same time, some of the opportunities allowed may not do anything to improve your product or service."
Five: How can essential professional development opportunities be delivered and distributed more effectively? "This is one of those questions that you won't know if you don't ask."
Six: What travel expenses are essential to excellent customer service and job performance? How can essential travel expenses be reduced? "New technology makes it possible to reduce travel," Lorton asserts. "But at the same time, some travel may be necessary for your business. Just be sure it is done in a way that is cost effective."
Seven: What is the best way to achieve and measure enthusiastic customer satisfaction? "You need to do something annually, and on a continual basis, to measure customer satisfaction," she advises. "Just asking helps a business learn more about its customers."
Finally, what is the best way to positively communicate the customer benefits of your products and services? "This is a marketing question really but many times employees have a good hunch about what works and what does not," says the business expert.
Other cost saving ideas include reducing office space and costs, leasing desk or warehouse space, encouraging telecommuting and work sharing, selling and leasing back equipment and purchasing second-hand items, and turning inactive inventory into cash or tax-savings.
"A business owner needs to ruthlessly eliminate paper processing, administrative tasks, and heavy cost drivers that do not improve customer, employee, or vendor satisfaction. Doing so is simply critical to future success," Lorton concludes.
At Your Service
Profile: Missouri Film Office
Part One: A Q&A with the Missouri Film Office staff … get ready for your close-up!
The Missouri Film Office moved to the University of Missouri-Columbia campus in 2005 when it became part of the business development program at MU Extension.
Jerry Jones, director, joined the Missouri Film Office in 2000. He previously directed the Kansas Film Commission. His career with film was partly inspired by a job researching, writing, producing and filming traffic safety movies. Jerry earned his B.S. degree in journalism from the University of Kansas in 1978 and studied information technology in graduate school.
Andrea Sporcic, assistant director, received her B.A. degree in theatre from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo. She worked with the St. Louis International Film Festival for eight years before joining the Missouri Film Office in 2005. Her experience in both theatre and business helps her on the job. She says: "I work well because I have one foot in business and another foot in art. I understand the bottom line, but I also understand the artistic needs - such as finding the perfect location." Andrea has also produced several short films.
Get to know the Missouri Film Office team in the following Q&A:
Q. What is the Film Office?
A. The Missouri Film Office was created in 1983, as a part of the Jefferson City-based Missouri Film Commission. Each state has a film commission and there are 300 worldwide. Each has a similar mission - to bring film, television, cable and video productions to its geographic area. Our goal is to bring films to Missouri to promote local economic development.
Q. What does the Film Office do?
A. We get about 600 inquiries a year from people interested in filming in Missouri. Requests range from commercials to TV shows like Everybody's Got Talent cast calls in Branson to Harvey Weinstein movies.
We help filmmakers scout locations, help find crew and equipment, act as liaisons, coordinate street closings, find lodging and clean up. We assist with everything from recruitment to production. It's really a sales job … we sell Missouri.
Courting filmmakers is a busy job with constant travel. In addition to going to shoots in-state to assist, we attend film festivals like Columbia's True/False and Utah's Sundance. We also go to trade shows and host an annual reception in L.A. for Missourians in the film business.
Q. How do films help Missouri's economy?
A. If a film has a direct spending of $10 million, the direct spend, indirect spend and induced spending will bring about $27 million to $30 million to the state. We use a mathematical formula to calculate it, but that's the simple way of putting it. In addition, filmmaking creates jobs and sparks tourism in the area. Films bring money to the state.
Q. What are some famous films made in Missouri?
A. A few examples are Escape from New York, White Palace, Mr. and Mrs. Bridge, Jesse James and Paper Moon.
Q. How can people learn more?
A. Sign up for the Weekly Wrap-Up, our newsletter. It's on our Web site at
www.missouribusiness.net/film/wrapup.asp
Next month the July edition of Missouri Business eNews will explain how businesses can take advantage of the opportunities created when films are made in Missouri.
The Missouri Film Office is located on the University of Missouri-Columbia campus. Contact Jerry or Andrea at mofilm@missouri.edu or phone 573/882-1046. Visit their Web site at www.mofilm.org for more information.
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