PERINATAL RESEARCH AND ITS SUPPORT - CORPORATE CONTRIBUTIONS AT MCGILL UNIVERSITY

Three technologic projects with potentially patentable end results are slowly evolving in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGil l University and Royal Victoria Hospital. A tax shelter infusion of a significant amount of venture capital developed opportunities for all three projects over two years. The three projects-fetal heart rate tra cing analysis related to fetal outcome, a distributed and intelligent data acquisition system and selected ultrasonic three dimensional imag ing-were advanced considerably, and their results are expressed in out line. The effects of such infusions of business support into an enviro nment of sparse research grant support have been extremely encouraging to the investigators, but the department, with its obligations of ong oing research, teaching and patient care, must develop the next steps with care, although one of the projects has been extended by an intere sted corporation.