The Town of Brookhaven, in partnership with Stony Brook University and Brookhaven
National Laboratory, honors the inventions of 2010 patent holders

Supervisor Mark Lesko (center) with the President of the Long Island Association Kevin Law,
 Councilman Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld, Stony Brook University President Dr. Samuel Stanley and
 Associate Laboratory Director at Brookhaven National Laboratory Gerald M. Stokes at the
Second Annual Inventor’s Reception.

Farmingville, NY – On October 27, Supervisor Mark Lesko hosted the Second Annual Inventor’s Reception, a gala event honoring local inventors whose scientific research and discoveries earned patents in 2010. Held at Flowerfield in St. James, the event was presented in partnership with Long Island's premiere research institutions, Stony Brook University and Brookhaven National Laboratory. Supervisor Mark Lesko delivered opening remarks along with esteemed guests Dr. Samuel Stanley Jr., President of Stony Brook University and Gerald M. Stokes, Assistant Director for Global and Regional Solutions at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Kevin Law, President of the Long Island Association, was the keynote speaker.

Commenting on the achievements of the honored inventors, Supervisor Lesko said, “The Town of Brookhaven is extremely fortunate to have two of the world’s foremost research institutions within its borders and it is important that we recognize the extraordinary people and the technological discoveries that impact how we all live our lives. By promoting their accomplishments for commercial applications, we can help drive the local economy and establish Brookhaven as a cradle of innovation. I commend each and every one of them for their dedication to making the world a better place for us all.”

Councilwoman Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld, who was also in attendance said, "It has been said that ‘applause is the spur of noble minds,’ and this night should be just that, in recognition of the great minds of Stony Brook University and Brookhaven National Laboratory developing the new generation of innovations that will make our lives and our world even better than it is today. Many of these scientists and researchers are also, with their newly patented inventions, creating new job opportunities that will help lift us out of this current economic situation, and this night, organized by our Supervisor Mark Lesko, is a wonderful way to express our deep gratitude for their hard work. I am so proud to represent many of these individuals on our town board as many live in the Three Village and greater Port Jefferson community."

Dr. Stanley said, "I applaud Supervisor Lesko and Brookhaven Town's efforts to recognize the work done by Long Island's premiere research institutions, and for acknowledging through this unique award program the outstanding discovery and innovation of Stony Brook University faculty and the faculty at BNL. Support from leaders like Supervisor Lesko, through initiatives such as Accelerate Long Island, will help foster innovation and collaboration between institutions and as such, drive the economy and create new jobs on Long Island."

"This event celebrates a special group of Stony Brook University and Brookhaven Lab inventors who represent the leading edge of innovation and economic development in Brookhaven Town, and we are proud to be both a part of that celebration and Supervisor Lesko’s wider effort to create jobs and bring high-tech businesses here,” said Gerry Stokes. “History has shown that it’s not just institutions, but geographic concentrations of institutions that are the basis of any significant ecosystem of innovation. Supervisor Lesko has recognized that fact and is committed to making Brookhaven Town just such a concentration through his work with Accelerate Long Island and other initiatives.”

The evening’s keynote speaker was Kevin Law, President of the Long Island Association, New York’s largest business organization. Commenting on the event, Mr. Law said, "I am very proud to have the opportunity to take part in honoring this esteemed group of inventors whose work is making a big impact throughout the world today and will for years to come. I commend Supervisor Lesko for his vision and understanding that the work done by the research institutions right in our own backyard will create the jobs we need to drive the economy of our region."

The Town of Brookhaven’s Second Annual Inventor’s Reception was made possible by generous sponsorship commitments from platinum sponsors Hoffmann & Baron, LLP; Scully, Scott, Murphy & Press, PC; gold sponsors Kenyon & Kenyon LLP, Cooper & Dunham LLP and Farrell Law Firm.

An impressive list of over 39 patented technology inventions were recognized during the awards ceremony with certificates of excellence presented to each inventor whose achievements earned them the honor. Those who presented the awards were Donna Tumminello and Jennifer Hsieh, Assistant Directors for the Office of Technology Licensing and Industry Relations at Stony brook University and Walter Copan, Managing Director, Technology Commercialization and Industry Relations at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The inventions covered a wide range of scientific categories.

Some examples of the scientific inventions that were recognized at the Inventor’s Reception are:

• Method and Apparatus for Scanning Confocal Acoustic Diagnostic for Bone Quality
  U.S. Patent No. 7,727,152
  Inventors: Dr. Clint Rubin, Dr. Wei Lin and Dr. Yi-Xian Qin / Stony Brook University
  Scanning Confocal Acoustic Navigation (“SCAN”) technology has the potential to revolutionize the osteoporosis diagnostic market. The uniqueness of the SCAN technology lies in its ability to measure both bone quantity (density) and bone quality (strength). By providing measurements of both bone quantity and bone quality, the SCAN technology could qualify as a superior diagnostic tool and better predict a patient’s future fracture risk. No osteoporosis diagnostic device currently on the market possesses the capability to measure bone quality. Bone quality, generally, refers to the physical properties of the bone measured. Strength of bone could be a better indication of future fracture. The strength of a subject’s bone can be determined based on the attenuation and change in velocity of ultrasound traveling through bone. By measuring both the bone quantity and quality, it is believed that the SCAN technology can replace the current gold standard (DXA) for diagnosing the onset of osteoporosis. In addition to providing a more complete assessment of a patient’s bone health, the SCAN technology employs ultrasound, rather than x-ray radiation. Because the SCAN technology uses ultrasound, it is safe for patients to undergo osteoporosis assessment as often as possible. In contrast, due to the emission of harmful radiation, DXA osteoporosis assessment is discouraged more often than once a year.
• Mercury Contamination Extraction
  U.S. Patent No. 7,692,058
  Inventors: Mark Fuhrmann, John Heiser and Paul Kalb / Brookhaven National Laboratory
  Mercury is removed from contaminated waste by applying a sulfur-based reagent to the waste and allowing the Mercury to migrate to the reagent. The Mercury is then stabilized in a Mercury Sulfide compound which is then removed from the site.

Supervisor Lesko, Dr. Stanley, and Kevin Law mentioned the importance of Accelerate Long Island to create an entrepreneurial ecosystem on Long Island. In January 2011, leading research institutions, Brookhaven Supervisor Mark Lesko and the Long Island Association announced the launch of the groundbreaking Accelerate Long Island initiative, which brings together the leaders of Stony Brook University, Hofstra University, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and North Shore- LIJ Health System and is a regional effort to commercialize innovations at Long Island’s major research institutions.

The leadership group determined that Long Island has an abundance of research and ideas, but as a region needed a strategy to take those ideas and turn them into entrepreneurial successes. Accelerate Long Island is a regional strategy to unlock the economic potential of the world class research conducted at these institutions. Accelerate Long Island will increase commercialization of research, promote entrepreneurship, and foster business creation and retention on Long Island.

Supervisor Mark Lesko (right) and Councilman Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld (left) with many of the
inventors from Stony Brook University and Brookhaven National Laboratory who were honored
 at the Town of Brookhaven’s Second Annual Inventor’s Reception for their groundbreaking
 scientific research and discoveries that earned patents in 2010.

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