Dina Markowitz, PhD University of Rochester and Science Take-Out

Brief overview of Science Take-Out, LLC How is Science Take-Out related to our University of Rochester projects What did we need to do to create the company and apply for SBIR grants What resources were available to help us What other stuff you should know about

Looking for an easy way to provide hands-on science activities in any educational setting? Science Take-Out kits may be the solution you are searching for. Convenient, versatile, and cost-effective science kits!

Science Take-Out Kits: Kits may be used by educators with minimal science background or teaching experience. All kits are field tested by teachers in a variety of settings. Kit are sold individually, so you can buy just what you need. Each kit contains all the materials needed. No teacher prep required! Kits can be used in non-school settings – no lab facility or equipment needed.

Science Take-Out kits have been used for…  Make-up labs  Home school programs  Class activities when lab room is not available  Beginning science teacher support programs  Tutoring programs and science enrichment programs  Special education and alternative education classes  Pre-service teacher education programs  Teacher professional development programs  Community college science classes  Home instruction for students who cannot attend school  Informal science programs - scouting, museums, science clubs

Science Take-Out Employees (all part-time) Dina Markowitz, PhD – President/CEO Susan Holt, MS Ed. – Director of Product Development Kit assembly staff – 7 part-time workers Consultants: Graphic artist Proofreaders Website developer Future Hires: Operations Manager - supervise kit manufacturing Administrative Assistant – customer support, bookkeeping

Company Growth November 2008: 8 kits customers were mostly New York State teachers. Currently: 23 different kits, kit refills and unassembled kits. > 300 customers - from 36 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, England, Australia and Egypt. > 250% increase in sales revenue in the past year. > 4,000 kits sold during the past 12 months Wards Natural Sciences and ScienceKit – will be distributers as of 1/2011

SEPA grant SBIR grant How is our University work related to STO?

Kidney Donor (STO) This collection of 7 lessons and hands-on activities uses diabetes and kidney disease to illustrate concepts of biology. Kidney Crisis (U of R) Students perform simulated lab tests to determine which family member is best suited to donate a kidney to a patient. –urinalysis, blood typing, HLA tissue typing –analysis of donor survival data How is our University work related to STO?

Kidney Donor Kit Kits are sold through Science Take-Out. Instructions for making your own kits are on our University of Rochester web site.

SBIR Phase I Grant 1.Developed 7 new kits. 2.Conducted focus groups with Rochester and Buffalo high school biology teachers. 3.High school biology teachers pilot tested the kits in their classrooms. 4.Collected preliminary data from pre/post assessment tests to study the impact of the kits on students’ learning. Phase I grant: 11 months $123,000 Supplement grant: 3 months $17,000

What did we need to do to create STO and apply for SBIR grants? 1.Create Science Take-Out, LLC – work with attorney to file paperwork. 2.Obtain Employer Identification Number (EIN) - also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number (TIN) – from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). 3.Obtain a DUNS number (Dun & Bradstreet identification number): 4.Register with Central Contractor Registration (CCR): Register with Grants.gov: Fun with forms and acronyms!

What did we need to do to create STO and apply for SBIR grants? 6.Hire an IRB to review our grant – needed if you have a “Human Subjects” component. 7.Write a business plan: Business Plan Pro software (easy and cheap!) Business consultant (expensive, but worth the money!) 8.Conduct market research and analyze “needs assessment” data from potential customers. 9.Identify possible conflicts of interest and licensing issues. 10.Work with ORPA to create a “Conflict Management Plan.”

What resources were available to help us? University of Rochester Office of Technology Transfer –Helped us identify attorneys with experience in start-ups –Identified an experienced business consultant to help write our business plan High Tech Rochester (HTR) –Reviewed drafts of our SBIR grant proposal –Assisted with grant proposal budget –Provided “Phase 0” funding ($2,500) for grant preparation Annual NIH SBIR/STTR Conference (a must-do!) –Workshops and 1-on-1 sessions with NIH staff

Other details to know about… For SBIR grant, you need to select a PI who is employed at least 50% at the company. You need to have the company created before you apply for a SBIR grant. Allow several months for registering with Grants.gov, to gather and submit required forms. You will need a bank account. You will need to spend money before you get SBIR grant funding (for IRB approval, and other stuff). You will need to license your own “intellectual property” materials from the University.

Closing thoughts… Expect to learn A LOT Expect to make a lot of mistakes Expect to have a lot of fun Expect to get little sleep Questions…comments…concerns?