2011
Dr. Hui Wang, Dr. Ajay Dalai and Dr. Jianguo Zhang

Hui Wang, Ajay Dalai, and Jianguo (Jack) Zhang from the College of Engineering, developed a catalyst used to transform carbon dioxide and methane - both potent greenhouse gases - into synthesis gas, or syngas, a basic feedstock for producing gasoline and other fuels. This technology allows us to simultaneously address the problem of greenhouse gas as well as the need for energy. After a decade of effort, the U of S - SRC team developed a solution: a catalyst that offers high conversion rates with no significant carbon build-up. This allows it to remain active over long periods of time - more than 2,000 hours in bench-top tests. In December 2010, the ILO brokered a deal to licence the catalyst technology to California-based Carbon Sciences Inc. The catalyst eliminates a major development hurdle for the company, which was stymied by problems such as carbon deposits that fouled their own catalysts. The team’s research was funded through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC).

2010
Dr. John Giesy

John Giesy co-developed an assay test (a molecular biology procedure), named the H295R Steroidogenersis Assay, which will enable regulators to determine which chemical compounds cause harmful hormone effects and help them develop regulations to minimize them. Geisy was instrumental in designing the regulations with environmental regulators in the United States and Europe. University Researchers Dr. Markus Hecker and Dr. Xiaowei Zhang also worked with Dr. Giesy on the development of this research.  The assay was developed with financial support from Western Economic Diversification Canada and has been approved for use by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Organization for Economic Development and Co-operation. The U of S recently set up a wholly owned subsidiary to market this test world-wide.

2009
Dr. Andrew Potter and Dr. Martin Reaney

Veterinary Microbiology Professor and Director of the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, Andrew Potter developed a novel E. coli vaccine for cattle.  Dr. Potter is a named inventor on over 50 national and international issued patents and pending patent applications.  Dr. Potter, along with Dr. Brett Finlay from the University of British Columbia, has developed an entirely unique approach to food safety.

Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture Chair of Lipid Quality and Utilization, and working in microbiology and food science, Martin Reaney developed several novel value-adding processes for the production of biodiesel which reduce the cost of production and increase the performance of biodiesel.  He works very closely with industry during the scale-up and early production phases to ensure the commercial success of his technologies are realized.

2008
Dr. Larry Fowke and Dr. Stephen Attree

Both Fowke, with the Department of Biology at the University of Saskatchewan and Attree, with the company CellFor, were recognized for their work on Somatic Embryogenesis (SE). This patented technology, produces large volumes of Conifer Seedlings that are superior and genetically identical, assuring consistency. Their research, and subsequent technology, has dramatically enhanced reforestation practices in the forestry industry in North and South America and is licensed to CellFor the world’s leading independent supplier of high technology seeds to the global forest industry.

2007
Dr. John Gordon

A new drug with potential to treat a wide array of inflammatory conditions has secured this year’s Award of Innovation for U of S researchers John Gordon and Fang Li. The researchers from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine were named as winners of the $5,000 award on May 15th at TCU Place at the "Celebrate Success!" gala. The drug, G31P, could ease the suffering of people with arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and cystic fibrosis, as well as reduce damage caused by heart attacks and strokes.

2006
Deborah Haines and Brian Chelack

Veterinary microbiologist Deborah Haines and immunologist Brian Chelack have won the fifth annual Innovation Place-Industry Liaison Office (ILO) Award of Innovation for their development of method to process liquid colostrum, or “first milk,” into a high-quality immune system booster for newborn calves. The supplement, HEADSTART, offers a high concentration of antibodies from mother cows and a three-year shelf life. The product is produced and marketed by U of S spin-off Saskatoon Colostrum Company. Sales have grown from $300,000 in 2000 to more than $2.5 million in 2005, with markets across North America and in several countries overseas.

2005
Dr. Marianna Foldvari

Dr. Marianna Foldvari, College of Pharmacy and Nutrition Pharmaceutical scientist, developed a novel microscopic delivery system technology that could replace needles in the administration of proteins and genes, the pharmaceutical drugs of the future. These large molecules generally can only be administered by painful injections or may not be useful because they degrade before reaching the disease site. The Biphasix™ technology is the first technology in the world that is applied to a large protein molecule in a pharmaceutical product that is applied on the skin in the form of a cream not by an injection or any other electrical device. There are vast implications of this technology to protein therapeutics, gene therapy and global immunization by patches. This breakthrough technology is being developed by a company started in 1991 by Dr. Foldvari, PharmaDerm Laboratories Ltd. (subsidiary of Helix BioPharma Corp), scaled up in a GMP manufacturing facility and has already advanced to Phase II clinical trials.

2004
Dr. David Maenz, Dr. Hank Classen, & Dr. Rex Newkirk

Dr. David Maenz, Department of Animal and Poultry Science, College of Agriculture, Dr. Henry Classen, Department of Animal and Poultry Science, College of Agriculture, Dr. Rex Newkirk, formerly Department of Animal and Poultry Science, College of Agriculture have developed a technology focused on unlocking the value of canola protein, one of the highest quality plant-based protein sources in the world, for use in large feed, food and cosmetics markets by fractionating canola meal. The company’s technology converts canola meal into multiple bioproduct streams: protein concentrates, customized fiber protein products and other co-products tailored to maximize value in their respective markets and generate significant value in excess of that derived from canola meal.

2003
Dr. Kailash Prasad

Dr. Kailash Prasad, Department of Physiology in the College of Medicine, for the development of Secoisolariciresinol Diglucoside (SDG) Isolated From Flaxseed as a Hypotensive (Vasodilator) Agent. Dr. Prasad’s research has shown SDG to prevent the development of hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis, reduce total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol and raise HDL-cholesterol in animal models. He has also shown SDG’s ability to lower blood pressure and effectiveness in prevention and treatment of conditions such as lupus nephritis, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. Such findings will lead to enormous commercial potential for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical (health food) purposes.

2002
Dr. Jeremy Lee and Dr. Palok Aich

Jeremy Lee, Department of Biochemistry, and his former post-doctoral fellow, Palok Aich, have developed a completely new and novel conformation of duplex DNA in which metal ions such as zinc are inserted into every base pair of the DNA strand. The discovery is called Metal-Containing Nucleic Acids (M-DNA). Experimental evidence suggests that M-DNA is an effective and efficient conductor of electrons. M-DNA can be thought of as a marriage of electronics and molecular biology. There are many applications for the technology including biosensors and micro-electronics devices. Commercialization through set-up of a company named ADNAVANCE Technologies is being supported by University Medical Discoveries Inc., a division of MDS Capital Corp.