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In about five years, dermatologists around the country could be using an infrared camera developed at the University of New Mexico to detect skin cancer instead of performing a biopsy.
The camera, which has the potential to detect cancer cells by measuring heat on a lesion — a suspicious mole, for example — is in the first phase of testing at UNM Hospital’s Dermatology Clinic. It is under development by UNM engineering professor Sanjay Krishna, and his wife, Sanchita Krishna, a cancer biologist. The couple runs SK Infrared LLC, one of the eight start-up companies the university helped found in 2009.
Their invention could also be a solid source of revenue for UNM
Recent data by the Association of University Technology Managers show the university made $3.1 million in licensing revenue in fiscal year 2011, which ended June 30, 2011. That put UNM in 61st place in a list of 153 research universities.
Sanjay Krishna, right, and wife Sanchita Krishna run SK Infrared LLC, a University of New Mexico start-up. The couple are testing a camera that has potential to detect cancer cells. (marla brose/journal)
“My take on it is that I think UNM has come a long way, and we’re now in the top 40 percent nationally on income alone,” said Lisa Kuuttila, president and CEO of STC.UNM, a nonprofit corporation owned by UNM that fosters technology and innovation. “If you look at all the data, one of the areas that we’re really strong in is in the area of starting new companies. I’m excited about the progress that we’re making.”
New Mexico has two other research universities: New Mexico Tech, which did not respond to the survey, and New Mexico State University, which is focused on agricultural improvements that aren’t generally patented.
STC.UNM was founded in 1995 to obtain patents and execute licenses for technologies and intellectual properties developed at UNM. It also helps to create start-ups and works on partnerships between the private sector and the university.
UNM’s licensing revenue, including money from fees, patents and inventions, rose from $938,000 in 2008 to $3.1 million last year. It spent $220.5 million on research, with five start-ups, 30 new patents and 36 licenses.
Still, the school has seen significant gains, especially when compared to other research universities. For example, the University of Colorado made about $770,000 more than UNM in licensing income in 2011, but its research budget was quadruple the size of UNM’s research budget. The University of Arizona’s research budget was $610.5 million, but revenue was only $981,000.
The Krishnas started their endeavour a few years ago with the idea of merging engineering and medicine to create a simpler and less expensive way to detect cancer.
The invention, if successful, could replace invasive procedures used to detect skin cancer, Sanjay Krishna said.
Sanjay already has developed three versions of the infrared camera his wife uses to test patients once a week at UNM’s dermatology center, but it will be months before the team has conclusive data and can move forward to the blind study phase. If results show it can detect cancer as effectively as a biopsy, the Krishnas will take their camera to the FDA for approval.
“It looks very encouraging, but the jury is still out,” Sanjay Krishna said.
— This article appeared on page C1 of the Albuquerque Journal
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