On November 7, 2024, the Office of Technology Management celebrated the annual Welcome to the Wall, an event recognizing and celebrating WashU IP startup companies. WashU startup founders, faculty, OTM staff and ecosystem friends gathered for an evening of community while recognizing 10 new FY24 WashU IP startup companies and the talented innovation teams behind […]
Author: Leslie Roettger
2024 Women in Innovation & Technology Luncheon
The Office of Technology Management’s (OTM) Women in Innovation & Technology program brings together WashU’s women academic researchers to celebrate their achievements in technology commercialization and showcase successful role models. This year’s annual luncheon, held October 30, 2024, featured keynote speaker, Jennifer N. Avari Silva, MD, a professor of pediatrics and of biomedical engineering and Co-Founder and Chief […]
Healthy brains suppress inappropriate immune responses (Links to an external site)
Harnessing this process may offer therapies for neuroinflammatory diseases such as MS, mouse study suggests
Equalize Startups: Applications for the Equalize 2025 cohort now open
Equalize Startups is a six-month mentoring, training and networking program that seeks to equalize the pathway for academic women who want to commercialize their innovations. Equalize participants receive education, a field-specific mentor, and access to networks that drive new entrepreneurial connections. Equalize candidates can include faculty, postdocs, and grad students in STEM disciplines. Applications are […]
Frantz appointed vice chancellor for innovation, commercialization (Links to an external site)
Doug E. Frantz has been appointed the new vice chancellor for innovation and commercialization at Washington University in St. Louis, effective Jan. 1, according to Chancellor Andrew D. Martin and David H. Perlmutter, MD, executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and dean of the School of Medicine.
Hispanic Heritage Month: An Interview with Dr. Jonathan Silva, SMNAI (Links to an external site)
Ignition Schools: Top 50 Institutions Revolutionizing Entrepreneurship (Links to an external site)
WashU research funding exceeds $1 billion for first time (Links to an external site)
External dollars solve major challenges, spark local job growth, development
Welcome to the inaugural Venture Fellows cohort
The Washington University in St. Louis Office of Technology Management (OTM) and BioGenerator announce the inaugural Venture Fellows cohort. This cohort of four WashU postdoctoral researchers will participate in an intensive six-month curriculum that provides experiential learning in venture capital investing and company creation, as they work alongside entrepreneurs, investors, and faculty in the St. Louis ecosystem. […]
OTM’s Malcolm Townes published in Journal of the Knowledge Economy
Malcolm Townes, PhD, MBA, innovation fund manager for Washington University’s Office of Technology Management, recently had a journal article published in Journal of the Knowledge Economy presenting the results of a study aimed at understanding how technology maturity level influences the incidence of university technology transfer to the private sector. Read the full article here.
WashU to lead $26 million decarbonization initiative (Links to an external site)
National Science Foundation grant is largest in McKelvey Engineering history
OTM celebrates New Ventures summer intern, Sam Wardenburg
The Office of Technology Management was happy to sponsor an undergraduate summer intern for 2024. Sam Wardenburg, a rising junior at American University, in Washington D.C, joined OTM in June as a summer intern working on special data projects for the New Ventures team. This fall Sam will return to American University where he is […]
OTM Newsletter, Innovation Insights
Check out OTM’s inaugural newsletter, Innovation Insights, Summer 2024 edition. Subscribe here to receive future issues direct to your inbox.
WashU among top 100 granted patents in U.S. (Links to an external site)
Washington University in St. Louis was ranked among the top 100 U.S. universities granted patents in 2023, according to a report released June 4 by the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).
OTM’s Malcolm Townes featured in Technology Transfer Tactics
Malcolm Townes, PhD, MBA, innovation fund manager for Washington University’s Office of Technology Management wrote a column for the May issue of Technology Transfer Tactics, a monthly newsletter developed by Tech Transfer Central. Townes’ column, “TRL scale is a useful if imperfect tool for TTOs” was in response to the article “Technology Readiness Level Scale: […]
OTM goes to BIO 2024
The Office of Technology Management recently attended Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) International Convention from June 3 – 6, 2024. As the largest and most comprehensive event for biotechnology worldwide, the BIO International Convention annually attracts leaders in biotechnology and pharma for several days of programming and networking opportunities. The OTM team met with more than 100 investors […]
Physician-scientists receive Scholar-Innovator award (Links to an external site)
Recognized for innovative research with potential clinical impact
Zayed Receives WashU Gap Fund Award
Mohamed Zayed, MD, PhD, MBA, a professor of surgery, radiology, molecular cell biology, and biomedical engineering at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, received a Washington University Gap Fund award to perform translational work to de-risk and mature technology related to the Aorto-Iliac Fenestrated (AIFEN) Stent System, a fenestrated balloon expandable stent system […]
Office of Technology Management to mentor Mizzou on commercialization (Links to an external site)
Washington University selected to support Mizzou in accelerating translational research
DiPersio receives innovation award (Links to an external site)
Oncologist recognized for developing new therapies for blood cancers
WashU Celebration of Inventors 2024
On April 25, 2024, the Office of Technology Management hosted the seventh annual Celebration of Inventors, an event to honor and recognize Washington University inventors, researchers and faculty entrepreneurs. Honorees included 2023 United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) awardees; National Academy of Inventors Fellows and Senior Members; and the recipient of the 2024 Chancellor’s […]
2024 Women in Innovation & Technology Symposium
The Office of Technology Management hosted their annual Women in Innovation & Technology Symposium on April 11, 2024. The event was a day of learning and networking for women academics interested in technology commercialization. Featured speakers for the event included representatives from the United States Patent and Trademark Office; national venture capital consultants; Washington University […]
OTM Office Hours: Licensing Technology from Tech Transfer Offices for your Startup – A National Perspective
The Office of Technology Management hosted a special edition of the monthly Office Hours educational series on April 11, 2024 immediately following the annual Women in Innovation & Technology Symposium. The event featured three national tech transfer experts for a panel discussion titled, “Licensing Technology from Tech Transfer Offices for your Startup – A National […]
Washington University in St. Louis to serve as University of Missouri – Columbia’s mentor institution on NSF ART grant
WashU will serve as the mentor institution to the University of Missouri – Columbia (MU) as part of the U.S. National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Accelerating Research Translation (ART) program. NSF announced in late 2023 the first-ever Accelerating Research Translation (ART) awards to empower academic institutions to accelerate the pace and scale of translational research that […]
OTM Women in Innovation & Technology Symposium featured in The Source
OTM’s recent Women in Innovation & Technology Symposium was featured in WashU’s The Source under “The View From Here 04.22.24“.
Washington U tech transfer unit hits milestone: 100 faculty-founded startups (Links to an external site)
WashU faculty selected as 2024 Scholar-Innovator Award recipients from Harrington Discovery Institute
Juliane Bubeck Wardenburg, MD, PhD, and Russell Pachynski, MD, are among 10 physician-scientists nationwide named as recipients of the Harrington Discovery Institute 2024 Scholar-Innovator Award. The scholar awards support breakthrough new treatments for heart disease, autoimmune disorders, cancer, infectious disease, inflammation, and rare diseases using small molecule, nucleic acid, vaccine, biologic, and gene therapies. Bubeck […]
Obituary: Philip Needleman, emeritus trustee, longtime benefactor, 85 (Links to an external site)
Ones to Watch: St. Louisans driving disruption in a range of industries (Links to an external site)
These entrepreneurial St. Louisans are taking novel approaches that are reshaping a range of sectors in ways large and small.
The power of persistence: Bridging the gender gap in patent applications (Links to an external site)
WashU’s economic impact totals $8.8 billion (Links to an external site)
University supported 54,380 jobs; drew $978 million in research funding to the region
WashU named a top 100 patent-producing university (Links to an external site)
Chen, Silva named senior members of National Academy of Inventors (Links to an external site)
Hong Chen, Jon Silva, both in biomedical engineering, are honored as rising leaders in their fields
NAI Welcomes 124 New Emerging Innovators (Links to an external site)
Women in Innovation & Technology program hosts session on resiliency
On February 8, 2024, the Women in Innovation & Technology (WIT) program hosted a special virtual event, “The Resilient Inventor/Entrepreneur: Managing Your Mindset”. In this live Zoom session, Dr. Sharon Milgram, Director of the NIH’s Office of Intramural Training and Education, provided practical, hands-on guidance to managing common mental barriers that can keep women academic […]
2023 Top 100 Worldwide Universities Granted U.S. Utility Patents by the National Academy of Inventors (Links to an external site)
WashU awarded up to $20M to create portable device to scan for eye diseases (Links to an external site)
High-tech imaging tool could be used in other medical fields
Welcome to the Wall 2023: Celebrating WashU Faculty Startups
On December 7, 2023, the Office of Technology Management celebrated the third annual Welcome to the Wall, an event recognizing and celebrating WashU faculty startup companies. After a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, OTM was pleased to once again hold this celebration in person. In 2023, OTM was proud to make the milestone of […]
University’s technology, innovation hub celebrates 100th faculty startup (Links to an external site)
Office of Technology Management fuels entrepreneurial spirit
Haroutounian Receives WashU Gap Fund Award
Simon Haroutounian, PhD, MSc, an associate professor of anesthesiology, chief of the Division of Clinical and Translational Research in the Department of Anesthesiology, and chief of clinical research at the Washington University Pain Center, received a WashU Gap Fund award to help advance technology that predicts the onset of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in patients treated […]
Needleman program seeks proposals (Links to an external site)
The Needleman Program for Innovation and Commercialization provides funding for researchers developing promising new therapeutics, helping them progress to early-stage clinical trials. A second call for proposals is now open. The submission deadline is March 15. Learn more here (WUSTL Box login required).
Washington University and Deerfield Management launch VeritaScience to drive drug discovery (Links to an external site)
Washington University and Deerfield Management announced the launch of VeritaScience, a new private R&D collaboration designed to advance the discovery, clinical development and commercialization of promising therapeutic and diagnostic candidates with potential to benefit human health.
Awardees announced for Needleman innovation, commercialization program (Links to an external site)
The university’s recently established Needleman Program for Innovation and Commercialization (NPIC) will provide critical funding to help move research toward early-stage clinical trials and commercialization. The first three awardees are Carl DeSelm, MD, PhD, John F. DiPersio, MD, PhD, and Kory Lavine, MD, PhD.
University launches new era of progress in neuroscience (Links to an external site)
Understanding the brain and nervous system is one of the most pressing challenges in medicine. To meet this challenge, WashU Medicine has built and is opening the Neuroscience Research Building, a 609,000-square-foot facility expected to be among the nation’s premier neuroscience research hubs.
Team to develop breathalyzer test for COVID, RSV, influenza A (Links to an external site)
COVID-19, RSV and influenza A are the most predominant of seasonal viruses, each transmitted through aerosols and droplets that are easily spread indoors. A team of researchers at Washington University is developing an inexpensive, handheld breathalyzer that could make rapid screening a step closer to reality.
Curiel, Janetka named fellows of National Academy of Inventors (Links to an external site)
David T. Curiel, MD, PhD, and James W. Janetka, PhD – both of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis – have been named fellows of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). The recognition represents the highest professional distinction accorded solely to academic inventors.
2023 Women in Innovation & Technology Luncheon
The Office of Technology Management’s Women in Innovation & Technology program brings together WashU’s women academic researchers to celebrate their achievements in technology commercialization and showcase successful role models. This year’s annual luncheon on November 8th, hosted by the Office of Technology Management and sponsored by McKelvey School of Engineering, featured keynote speaker, Lan Yang, […]
Device for noninvasive brain biopsies via blood draw moves closer to market approval (Links to an external site)
FDA grants WashU-based technology ‘Breakthrough Device’ designation
Jiang Receives WashU Gap Fund Award
Shu “Joy” Jiang, PhD, MSc recently received an award from the Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) Gap Fund. The award will enable Jiang and her collaborator, Graham Colditz, MD, DrPH to perform translational work to de-risk and mature technology they developed for identifying pathologic characteristics in histopathology images. “Pathology has become fundamental to modern medicine […]
Biotech industry leader to helm WashU drug development accelerator (Links to an external site)
Shripad Bhagwat, PhD, a drug development expert with decades of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, has been named the inaugural senior director of the Needleman Program for Innovation and Commercialization (NPIC) at Washington University in St. Louis.