The University of California Davis Health System in Sacramento has received a two-year, $600,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) Partnerships for Innovation grant to develop a Medical Technology Commercialization Clinic that will train students to translate innovative technologies developed in university laboratories into marketable products to advance patient health. The grant will fund a multidisciplinary, collaborative partnership of scientists, educators, and business leaders to stimulate economic development and build a suitable infrastructure to develop medical technology and a diverse workforce. The partnership includes the UC-Davis Center for Biophotonics Science and Technology (CBST) and other UC-Davis departments, Fisk University, Sacramento State University, Los Rios Community College District, Sacramento Area Regional Technology Alliance (SARTA) and its MedStart Initiative, PRIDE Industries, T2 Venture Capital, Wavepoint Ventures, and the cities of Sacramento and West Sacramento.
The Medical Technology Commercialization Clinic will use live and virtual forums to provide hands-on training to graduate and postdoctoral students in biomedical sciences, engineering, and business so they can convert research into treatments and products. The model is designed to overcome challenges to university tech transfer, which traditionally focuses more on discoveries than business development. One example of a project under development at the clinic is an endoscope that combines microscopic imaging and ultraviolet auto fluorescence for noninvasive, real-time detection of cells progressing toward cancer in the esophagus. “The clinic is an excellent way for students and scientists to gain entrepreneurship training and develop strategies to commercialize research projects,” says Gabriela Lee, CBST’s director of partnerships and new program development and manager of the clinic.
Source: California Healthline