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Maurice Godfrey, Ph.D. |
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Roxanna Jokela |
Inventors rarely work alone and many UNMC researchers work collaboratively in teams throughout the University of Nebraska system. Such is the case with Maurice Godfrey, Ph.D., and Roxanna Jokela.
Together, they have developed multiple educational tools and demonstrated their beneficial effects on populations that are underrepresented in the medical field. Those tools include multimedia educational products, scientific curricula, interactive cultural games and a program connecting American Indian school children to role models that have established careers in the health care field.
UNeMed already has sought copyright protection on several works disclosed by Dr. Godfrey and Jokela, as well as discussed commercialization opportunities with multiple partners. Working closely with Dr. Godfrey and Jokela, UNeMed hopes to find opportunities to license the copyrighted educational tools to commercial partners that can market them to schools around the world and re-invest the proceeds back into research at UNMC.
On Thursday, Dr. Godfrey and Jokela will be honored as New Invention Notification contributors during UNMC and UNeMed Corporation’s annual Innovation Awards Ceremony. UNeMed is honoring the two inventors to recognize innovation in education research and demonstrate that innovation is present at every part of UNMC.
For Dr. Godfrey, coordinator of the Hattie B. Munroe Center for Human Molecular Genetics and principal investigator in pediatrics, innovation is the discovery of new ways to approach a problem or the development of new tools to create advances in science or technology.
Scientific research provides the potential to do things that no one has done before, Dr. Godfrey said.
“There is nothing more exciting as a new discovery and I’ve been fortunate to have experienced that feeling several times,” said Dr. Godfrey, who joined UNMC in 1990. “Education research is a bit different, but like scientific research, the possibility to positively affect many people is an important motivating factor.”
For nearly 20 years, Dr. Godfrey has studied inheritable disorders of connective tissue, with an emphasis on Marfan syndrome. His current research has shifted to the field of education where he hopes to increase the appreciation for, and importance of, science in K-12 students and teachers.
“A more science literate public is essential to our technologically advancing society,” Dr. Godfrey said. “Professional scientists have a responsibility and vested interest in a science literate population.”
Jokela, director of Rural Health Education Network and deputy director of the Nebraska Area Health Education Center Program Office, said innovation is a way to step away from the norm and ask: “How can we make this happen?”
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“I like to think of new challenges that may have answers someday,” said Jokela, whose creative flair stretches back to her earlier days of making designer dresses and winning cook-offs. “Technology transfer is essential in education and access to education. Our economic success and ability to provide technology access to rural communities is paramount to our success. Rural areas cannot survive without technology.
“UNeMed has been fabulous to work with. While we are in the crawling stage of new ideas, UNeMed has provided a backbone to lift our projects to the running stage.”
Dr. Godfrey agreed.
“UNeMed has been an extraordinary partner in trouble-shooting and guiding us in this novel venture,” he said. “Our products all relate to getting students interested in science. Without UNeMed we would be a small operation with no chance to grow nationally.”
Joe Runge, contracts manager at UNeMed, said that Jokela and Dr. Godfrey demonstrate how innovation can be present in all aspects of university research.
“It’s been a great opportunity to see their work flourish,” he said.
For more information on the Innovation Awards and Innovation Week events, log onto www.unemed.com.