The FLC Excellence in Technology Transfer Award recognizes employees of member laboratories and non-laboratory staff who have accomplished outstanding work in the process of transferring federally developed technology.

The product – Solid Decontamination (decon) Blend – neutralizes biological and chemical threats such as nerve agent, opioids and anthrax pathogens. The Chemical Biological Center developed and tested the dry decontaminant as part of the Center’s ongoing search for easily deployed advanced countermeasures against harmful chemical and biological agents.

This continuing mission propels the Center to seek outside partners to speed innovation and ramp up production to have products in the hands of warfighters faster.

The recipient of the transfer is MQM Solutions, Inc., a Cleveland-based company that focuses on decontamination and other aseptic technologies in the form of consumable products for commercial and defense markets.

“It’s a win for all involved,” said Matthew Jones, technology transfer specialist. “We both recognized a potential for a great partnership and it’s nice to be recognized.”

Tim Meilander and Iain McVey of MQM Solutions initiated the tech transfer by approaching Department of Defense technology transfer partnership intermediary TechLink in Bozeman, Montana, and the Center’s tech transfer staff in Maryland for assistance in licensing the Army technology.

“My colleague, Iain McVey, and I have spent more than 15 years focusing on decontamination technologies to meet the requirements and needs of the U.S. Department of Defense,” said Meilander, MQM managing director. “We knew the decon blend was desired by the Government and we were confident it would be of value to the commercial market.”

The CCDC Chemical Biological Center and MQM signed a collaborative research and development agreement (CRADA) on January 30, 2019 to evaluate decontaminant formulations for neutralization of opioids, utilizing the Army’s decon technology. Within a month, the T2 partners signed a patent licensing agreement (PLA) on February 25.

In June MQM Solutions sold their first decon-based commercial product. The product is now marketed as Decon PLUSTM.

The rapid turnaround time from patent licensing to manufacture is exactly the agile and responsive culture that the Center nurtures.

“The decon blend project with MQM is the poster child for how to do technology transfer right,” said Eric L. Moore, Ph.D. and CCDC Chemical Biological Center director. “It was an exceptionally short transitional time frame, but we hope to replicate that experience as we move forward.”

The following received recognition for participation in the decon blend technology transfer:

CCDC Chemical Biological Center

George Wagner, Ph.D. – Research chemist (retired)

Kevin Morrissey – Decontamination Sciences branch chief

Lawrence Procell – Research chemist (retired)

Matthew Jones – Technology transfer specialist

Charles (Blake) Sajonia – Technology transfer professional

Amanda Schenning – Research scientist

MQM Solutions

Timothy Meilander – Managing director for business development & engineering

Iain F. McVey – Managing director for Science & Technology

TechLink

Marti Elder – Certified Licensing Professional