DETROIT — Wayne State University announced the appointment of Harl R. Tolbert of Pittsford, N.Y., as associate vice president of technology commercialization in the Division of Research. Tolbert began on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012.

Tolbert joins Wayne State from his most recent post as associate director for biological sciences in the University of Rochester (N.Y.) Medical Center's Office of Technology Transfer. He has extensive experience leading academic and business commercialization programs, and has created substantial partnerships that have sparked innovation and the commercialization of discoveries. In addition, he worked in in sales at Abbott Laboratories in North Chicago, IL and in business development at Pierce Chemical in Rockford, IL.

"With his background as a seasoned technology transfer champion, Harl will be a great asset as he builds on the great momentum we have created in the technology commercialization area over the past year," said Hilary Ratner, vice president for research at Wayne State. "He will spearhead WSU's goals of bringing the university's most promising technologies to the marketplace, creating startup companies that generate new jobs, products, service innovations and economic opportunities that will benefit our community and beyond."

"The opportunity to lead the Technology Commercialization Office at Wayne State University is tremendously exciting," said Tolbert. "The office plays a central role in the university's efforts to develop, transfer and commercialize research. Fulfilling these roles is part of the social contract that research universities have with funding agencies, the state and society as a whole. The breadth of Wayne State's research programs provides many opportunities and avenues for commercialization. I look forward to expanding outreach efforts and integrating the technology commercialization team into all facets of the research enterprise."

Tolbert earned his M.B.A. and master of science in animal sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a bachelor of science in animal sciences from Southern University.

In FY 2011, WSU's technology commercialization efforts led the university to nearly double its intellectual property disclosures to 72, up from 37 in FY 2010. In addition, the university increased its patent applications, patents issued and license agreements, and launched four startup companies.

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Wayne State University is one of the nation's pre-eminent public research institutions in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, state of Michigan and throughout the world. For more information about research at Wayne State University, visit http://www.research.wayne.edu.