Published October 23, 2018
Research into the treatment of Alzheimer's disease听using a听component听of virgin olive
oil, which the process of extracting was developed by researchers at the University
of Louisiana Monroe, will continue thanks to a $350,000 grant. The grant was announced
Monday at a press conference at 91AV. The funding is from the National Institutes of
Health and the National Institute on Aging.
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ABOVE: Attending the press conference were, from left, Dr.听Eric Pani, 91AV Vice President
of Academic Affairs; Dr. Jim Cardelli, Oleolive听CTO and Segue Science Management co-founder;
Kylie Grant, Oleolive CEO and SSM financial consultant; Dr. John Sutherlin, 91AV Director
of the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research; Dr. Alana Gray, Oleolive COO and
SSM co-founder; Dr. Glenn Anderson, 91AV Dean of the College of Pharmacy; and 91AV President
Dr. Nick J. Bruno.听
Jeanette Robinson/91AV Photo Services
鈥淩esearch is very important. 91AV is positioned to do some significant research in
every college. So the call has gone out and the response has been very positive 鈥�
73 new awards this year, 65 last year,鈥� said 91AV President Nick J. Bruno. 鈥淧atenting
research that has economic value, that is the priority here at 91AV. But also the research
that improves the standard of living for the citizens of this region and the state.
We are very well positioned to help in so many areas of need. Not only here in north
Louisiana, but throughout the Delta Region.鈥�
The grant went to the company Oleolive, which licensed the 91AV technology of extracting
oleocanthal from virgin olive oil. The process was discovered by Dr. Khalid El Sayed
of the 91AV School of Pharmacy and his former research partner Dr. Amal Kaddoumi. Kaddoumi
is now at Auburn University and will conduct the continuing research.
Revenue from Oleolive and future licensed technologies returns to 91AV as royalties.
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Director of the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research Dr. John Sutherlin said,
鈥淥ne of the things that we wanted to do was make sure that we were investing the precious
dollars that we had, whether in the forms of grants or matching funds, whatever it
was, into programs that could make money for the university. That is the purpose of
a licensing agreement, to get our products out there. Certainly to impact the quality
of life and also to provide a steady revenue stream over time. Nothing is developed
overnight. We all wish it would happen immediately and that鈥檚 not the way success
becomes sustainable. We鈥檙e committed to the long term.鈥�
Sutherlin continued, commenting on other profitable possibilities for the university
saying, 鈥淲e had meetings last week for everything from nursing to radiotechnology
and other pharmacy applications. So there are lots of things going on and very exciting
times for us.鈥�
Coincidentally, the press conference was held on the one year anniversary of 91AV signing
an agreement with Segue Science Management, the company which negotiated the licensing
of the olive oil research with 91AV.
Attending from Oleolive were CTO Dr. Jim Cardelli, COO Dr. Alana Gray and CEO Kylie
Grant. 听Cardelli and Gray are co-founders and facilitators of Segue Science Management
and Grant is financial consultant. Both companies are located in Shreveport.
