Caltech, UCLA and USC remain plugged into tomorrow with technology transfer programs that help inventors dream up, develop and take products to market.

UCLA: MICROSKIA INC.

Product: Portable microscope

Chief Executive: Neven Karlovac

Year Founded: 2009

Location: West Los Angeles

What Is It?

Neven Karlovac: Professor Aydogan Ozcan and his team have invented a technology for a very small, light optical microscope suitable as an inexpensive attachment to a cell phone or a portable instrument. Applications include medical diagnostics for doctors’ offices or remote patient monitoring, telemedicine, health and disease diagnostics for resource-limited countries, water-quality monitoring and research instrumentation.

What was the idea that led to the creation of the company?

We believe we can make a significant contribution to improve health care.

What were the biggest challenges?

Patents are a time-consuming and expensive process. Help from UCLA’s office of intellectual property was invaluable.

Why was it born at a university?

Because it is based on very advanced technology and UCLA is where research is done. Besides, Aydogan and I met at UCLA.

What’s been the biggest change since spinning off?

Funding, finding the right people, and wet lab facilities.

How could it change society?

Very low-cost diagnostic devices will bring diagnostics closer to the patient, resulting in lower health care costs, better outcomes and patient comfort.

What’s next?

Product launch is next year!