USC innovation institute reinventing itself

The institute -- which was previously called the USC Stevens Institute for Technology Commercialization -- was renamed the USC Stevens Institute for Innovation to reflect its shift to include innovations from all academic disciplines.

Established in 2004, the institute was originally designed to help advance engineering after USC alumnus and venture capitalist Mark Stevens and his wife, Mary, donated $22 million to the campus unit.

Stevens said Wednesday that over the next two years the idea grew to a larger vision with a "broader and more aggressive role" for the institute.

"We decided to make this a campuswide resource," said Stevens, who acknowledged that the institute's new mission and plans are still in the early stages. "This is a start-up." He added that the project is "full of unknowns, but that's what makes it exciting."

Traditionally, schools tend to focus on inventions and ideas connected to science and technology and ignore others, but officials said all disciplines must be included for maximum benefit to the public's quality of life. Innovative ideas could also include nonprofit organizations that aid a community. For example, many years ago, a USC professor from the School of Policy, Planning and Development developed the concept of the neighborhood council, according to the institute's director.

The institute's 17-member staff will help develop ideas from various areas, such as media, social work, fine arts and medicine.

The mission is about "nurturing ideas and inventions that would benefit society the most," USC President Steven B. Sample said.

An example of that objective was on display Wednesday as USC School of Dentistry professor Paul C. Denny chatted about how he developed a saliva test that predicts a child's genetic-based propensity for developing cavities.

The invention is being reviewed by the FDA for approval.

"It was my opportunity to do something for people," Denny said. "It was like it was a gift."