Straight Talk for Would-Be Faculty Entrepreneurs

March 5, 2010 — University of Virginia faculty members and researchers who have considered starting a company and want to learn more about raising capital and technology ventures are invited to a new networking series, starting March 11.

"True Confessions of a Faculty Entrepreneur" will feature conversations with U.Va. faculty who have translated their research discoveries into successful start-up ventures.

The first "True Confessions" session will be "From Lab Book to License: How to Bring Your Discoveries to the World," with George T. Gillies, research professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering and physics.

His talk will be on March 11 at 5 p.m. in Wilsdorf Hall, room 200. A networking reception will follow.

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.

RSVP by March 9 to Crystal Ballif at crystal@uvapf.org. For information, contact David Chen at davidchen@virginia.edu or 434-243-7357.

The event is hosted by the U.Va. Office of Economic Development, the Office of the Vice President for Research, the Patent Foundation, 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.

On April 8, Kevin R. Lynch, professor of pharmacology and biochemistry and molecular genetics, and Timothy L. Macdonald, professor of chemistry and pharmacology, will discuss "Entrepreneurial Alchemy: Changing S1P and LPA into $1P and £PA." And on May 13, Robin A. Felder, professor of pathology and associate director of clinical chemistry and toxicology, will present "From Concept to Capital: How to Place the Odds in Your Favor." Both will be at 5 p.m. in Wilsdorf Hall, room 200.

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