Monell has a long, productive history as an independent partner to industry. For more than 40 years, Monell’s basic research into the mechanisms and functions of the chemical senses has attracted corporations around the world. Because the work done at Monell has relevance to many industries, Monell has from the beginning created partnerships with industry that now serve as a model for mutually-productive academic-industry relationships.
Currently, more than 50 leading international corporations from the food, beverage, fragrance, pharmaceutical, chemical, and other industries provide unrestricted annual support to Monell; these funds are critical in enabling the Center to fund innovative research and support beginning scientists. Funding from Corporate Sponsors is used exclusively to support Monell’s research programs and does not financially benefit individual employees.
Exclusive Benefits of Corporate Sponsorship
Consulting
- Corporate sponsors have the right to consult with Monell scientists.
- Confidential consultations can take several forms, including meetings with individual scientists, roundtable discussions, conference calls, or formal presentations. Contacts can be arranged at the Center or at the sponsor’s facilities, and ongoing communication by phone, e-mail and mail is routine.
Research Reviews
- Sponsors are invited to an annual three-day comprehensive review of Monell’s research in October. The meeting format includes scientific presentations, poster sessions, tours and laboratory demonstrations. The Sponsors Meeting also offers an opportunity for consultation with individual scientists on Monell’s staff and for informal interaction with representatives from other sponsoring organizations.
- Sponsors are invited to an additional annual spring colloquium that deals with subjects and methods relating to chemosensory research. Recent colloquia, which are open only to sponsors, focused on topics such as nutrition, chemosensory interactions, emotions, and health and the environment. This meeting is typically held in April.
- Webcasts, e-mails and Monell’s newsletter, the Monell Connection, alert sponsors to new findings in the chemical senses and offer commentary to help sponsors understand and use the information.
Collaboration
- Under certain guidelines, sponsoring companies may confidentially support specific projects that are of a basic nature and are within the scope of the Center’s research interests.
- Research scientists from sponsoring companies can be assigned to Monell to work with a Monell scientist on a specific basic research project of interest to both parties.
Patents
- The Center’s patent policy acknowledges the special status of sponsors; they are offered first refusal for licensing inventions. Special licensing rights are available for inventions resulting from specific projects supported by sponsors.
For more information about Monell’s Corporate Sponsorship Program, contact:
Carol Christensen, PhD
Director of Institutional Advancement
267-519-4712
