New Intellectual Property head announced

Richard Kordal, Director of Biotechnology for Indiana University's Office of Technology Transfer, has been named as UC's new Director of Intellectual Property.

Kordal's appointment was announced by Howard Jackson, UC's Vice President for Research and University Dean for Advanced Studies. Kordal officially begins work at UC on Jan. 29, but has already begun actively rebuilding and expanding the Intellectual Property Office, according to Jackson.

Kordal owns a doctoral degree in chemistry (biochemistry emphasis) from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Prior to joining Indiana, he had 18 years experience in the in vitro diagnostics industry with Dade/Baxter, Boehringer Mannheim (Roche), Instrumentation Laboratory and Bionostics.

Of Kordal's selection, the search committee offered a summary comment on his talents.

"Richard Kordal has a very successful record of licensing. He is extremely creative in generating invention disclosures from his faculty [at Indiana University] and makes a point of getting to know his faculty on a personal basis. He makes the Office of Technology Licensing a real entity in the minds of faculty," the committee wrote.

"His creativity is reflected in many processes he has created and used successfully to generate invention disclosures, patent applications, start-up companies and in attracting licenses. He has a scientific background, is conscientious and aggressive and has the experience of managing a sizable, multifaceted program."