Resolution

This case study highlights the seemingly opposing interests of the public good and the profitability of research. In this case, the researchers took care to share their work without infringing upon one another's patents, but commercial interests provoked a lawsuit nonetheless.

While appealing the initial decision, ACell was forced to cease operations for eighteen months. How much life-saving research could have been conducted during this time? How many lives might have otherwise been saved?

Purdue University lost a valuable researcher. Dr. Badylak moved on to become a successful research professor in the Department of Surgery and serves as Director of Tissue Engineering at the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Spievack passed away on March 15, 2008 at his home in Cambridge, at age 74, after a long struggle with cancer.