True Confessions of a Faculty Entrepreneur
First held in spring 2010, "True Confessions of a Faculty Entrepreneur" is a networking series featuring conversations with University of Virginia faculty who have translated their research discoveries into successful start-up ventures.
U.Va. faculty and other researchers interested in starting their own company are invited to attend these events, jointly hosted by the U.Va. Patent Foundation, Office of Economic Development, the Office of the Vice President for Research, the School of Medicine Office of Research, the T100 Program, the Wallace H. Coulter Translational Research Partnership, and the Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Darden School of Business.
For more information about the series, contact David Chen at or 434.243.7357. A list of past "True Confessions" (with video and presentations, when available) follows.
From Concept to Capital: How to Place the Odds in Your Favor (Download Slides)
Robin A. Felder, Ph.D., Professor of Pathology and Associate Director of Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology
May 13, 2010
Felder has spun eight ventures out of U.Va., including WellAWARE Systems, which develops next-generation, technology-based wellness monitoring solutions for senior care, and Global Cell Solutions, which markets a novel cell culture technology to the stem cell market. WellAWARE Systems recently closed on a large growth capital round, and Global Cell Solutions has raised more than $1.5M using local angels.
True Confessions 05/13/10 - I from University of Virginia Patent Fo on Vimeo.
True Confessions 05/13/10 - II from University of Virginia Patent Fo on Vimeo.
Entrepreneurial Alchemy: Changing S1P and LPA into $1P and £PA
Kevin R. Lynch, Ph.D., Professor of Pharmacology and Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics
Timothy L. Macdonald, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry and Pharmacology
April 8, 2010
Lynch and Macdonald co-founded Catena Pharmaceuticals Inc., a U.Va. start-up that is developing therapeutics for pathologies characterized by hyper-proliferation, such as neoplasia and fibrotic diseases. Macdonald has been involved in several additional drug development companies spun out of U.Va., including the very successful Adenosine Therapeutics LLC, which was acquired by global biotechnology company Clinical Data Inc. in 2008.
Video and slides for this session are not available.
From Lab Book to License: How to Bring Your Discoveries to the World (Download Slides)
George T. Gillies, Ph.D., Research Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering and Physics
March 11, 2010
Gillies, his colleagues and students helped develop several innovative medical devices for the marketplace, including a magnetic catheter guidance system that has been used on 25,000 patients. He is currently involved in U.Va. start-up EpiEP Inc., which focuses on epicardial access devices, and NexGen Medical Systems Inc., which develops medical devices to treat neurological and cardiovascular diseases.
Video for this session is not available.