[news 2007 - 2008]

PARTEQ adds biochemistry, microbiology expertise to life sciences team

Jan. 9, 2008

KINGSTON, ON -- PARTEQ Innovations, the technology transfer arm of Queen’s University, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Michael J. Wells as Manager, Commercial Development, Life Sciences and Dr. Marie-France Hétu as Analyst, Life Sciences.

Dr. Wells is a biochemist with expertise in new product development and marketing, technology evaluation and licensing strategy. Prior to joining PARTEQ he was managing partner in Protevia Inc., a Guelph-based biopharmaceutical startup company, where he oversaw drug discovery and clinical development of external cardiovascular technologies. He also managed regulatory, intellectual property and manufacturing concerns. More recently he worked as a senior business development consultant for Campbell Alliance, a leading biopharmaceutical consulting firm. He also worked as a marketing associate in new product development at Janssen-Ortho Inc. of Toronto.

Dr. Wells is a graduate of Queen’s University (MBA, Science and Technology), McMaster University (PhD), and University of Guelph (BSc).

Dr. Hétu comes to PARTEQ from Queen’s Department of Biology, where she recently completed her PhD, looking at phosphate starvation mechanisms in Arabidopsis and alfalfa plants. Her research has potential applications in the development of nutrient-efficient and environmental stress-resistant plants. Dr. Hétu Is a graduate of Queen’s University (PhD, MSc) and Concordia University (BSc).

Reporting to Dr. Perry Kim, Director of Commercial Development, Life Sciences, Dr. Wells will engage in all aspects of commercial evaluation and development of discoveries arising from life sciences research at the institutions to which PARTEQ provides commercialization services. He will also provide business management, where appropriate, to PARTEQ start-up companies.

Also reporting to Dr. Kim, Dr. Hétu will assist in the commercialization of university-generated technologies, including meeting with researchers; identifying research innovations with commercial potential; performing patent and literature searches; identifying potential receptor companies; working with our patent agents to assist in patent applications; and working with senior commercial development colleagues to apply for both public and private research development funds.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Wells and Dr. Hétu to our life sciences team,” says Dr. Kim. “Their combined expertise enables us to offer a greater range of services to researchers at Queen’s and elsewhere.”

Drs. Wells’ and Hetu’s appointments are part of an expansion in scope and capacity at PARTEQ made possible by funding from the Ministry of Research and Innovation’s Ontario Research Commercialization Program (ORCP).

Contact:
Dr. Perry Kim
Director, Commercial Development
P: 613. 533. 6000 xt. 78457
E: pkim@parteqinnovations.com

About the Ontario Research Commercialization Program:
ORCP is an initiative of Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation, under the leadership of Premier Dalton McGuinty. The first program of its kind in Canada, ORCP supports the downstream development of innovative technologies generated by universities, research institutions and industry across Ontario.
http://www.mri.gov.on.ca/english/default.asp