Controlling hemorrhage is the initial step in first aid, surgery and field trauma care.

The transferred hemostatic bandage technology, co-invented by researchers at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), is a formulation and manufacturing technique for the production of hemostatic bandages comprised of dextran, salmon fibrinogen, and salmon thrombin. The bandages are created through a process of electrospinning dextran and adding fibrinogen and thrombin to the resulting dextran fibers, creating a matrix that promotes hemorrhage control. These fibrin-based dressings provide effective hemostasis in a large-animal model of arterial injury. The use of salmon-derived coagulation proteins allows the manufacture of an effective fibrin bandage at a low cost, and the salmon proteins may enhance healing.

The patented technology provides the base for the platform technology called FASTCLOT^® and the subsequent SURGICLOT^® hemostasis products developed by St. Teresa Medical, Inc., the licensee of the technology. Dr. Stephen Rothwell, USU scientist and co-inventor of the technology, notified the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc. (HJF) about the development of the technology and the entrepreneur who was interested in licensing the technology.  In addition, Dr. Rothwell connected the HJF with the academic co-owner of the technology.

John E. Baker contributed to the transfer of the technology by facilitating the agreements that permitted HJF to negotiate the related technology agreements. Dr. Mark Scher led the negotiations for the agreements that transferred the technology to St. Teresa Medical.

The transfer of the hemostatic bandage technology employed multiple technology transfer mechanisms, including inter-institutional agreement, nondisclosure agreements, an exclusive license agreement, and a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement. The unique aspect of this transfer was the ability of multiple parties to execute multiple agreements, all within a year and while protecting numerous interests (U.S. Government, academic, nonprofit, and commercial).

The original technology supported the USU mission of serving warfighters in that it was developed to treat battlefield trauma. In transferring this technology to St. Teresa Medical, which has developed a platform technology for hemostatic bandages, USU has supported research and a technology that benefits public health and the common good, as well as supporting the development of a successful startup company.

Contact: Joshua Girton, (301) 295-3028, [email protected]