This is an unusual email insofar as it concerns a uniquely important
patented technology that all ACB members will ultimately use but for
which they will have to pay.
But most ACB members don't have the time or opportunity to conduct
research, develop and patent new inventions in the field of clinical
biochemistry, which is a pity.
But since ceasing to provide routine hormone assays as one of the
original Supraregional Assay Service centres (as instructed by the
UCL provost, who considered that such activity was inappropriate in a
medical school), I and my co-workers have fortunately been able to
continue studies on the effects of maternal hormones on fetal
neurological development.
This has demanded the development of assay techniques, one or two of
which have been relevant to clinical biochemists and which I have
patented on behalf of UCL, primarily to protect the IP from foreign
exploitation. Note that I have rejected any part of the royalties
deriving from the patents to which I might be entitled according to
UCL's rules, this element of the royalties being devoted to charity.
The attached Bullet document constitutes a brief summary of the fate
of this patent of which the UK and EU scientific communities should
be made aware as a warning. Also politicians, since it is totally
useless to train more scientists if the government simply allows
those scientists' inventions to slip through its fingers and to be
unsupported.
--
With best regards to all,
Roger Ekins
Prof Roger Ekins, MA(Cantab) PhD DSc FRS
University College London
Phone +44 20 3108 6042
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