Oregon Health and Science University is holding its Research Week in May to celebrate research at the institution. One of those days will be dedicated to the entrepreneurial pursuits of students and staff with Innovation Day slated for May 5.
The daylong, virtual event is geared to internal and external partners, meaning investors looking for potential ideas to back or entrepreneurs looking for technology to commercialize will have opportunities to see OHSU-related startups or technology waiting to spin out.
Staff, students and anyone else interested in life science startups can also hear from faculty and partners about what it takes to build a successful company or partnership. It’s also a chance for donors to the institution to see work as well as for lawmakers to see the results of investments.
Innovation Day is a result of a concerted effort by OHSU to unite the various organizations within the institution working on spinning out the technology developed there. Early this year, OHSU Innovates was created as a central connection between Technology Transfer, Collaborations and Entrepreneurship, Oregon Clinical and Translational Research Institute, the OHSU School of Medicine and the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute.
“A lot of this has been building for a long time. We have recognized how to work together and improve our reach by sharing resources and expertise,” said Travis Cook, senior director of Technology Transfer.
By working closer together, the different groups can not only help support OHSU startups and partnerships get technology to market, but also better connect the institution to the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem across the state, said Aditi Martin, senior director of collaborations and entrepreneurship.
It’s about building regional connections.
“There is a renewed sense of networking regionally and beyond and getting the work out (into the market),” Martin said, especially coming out of the isolation of the Covid-19 pandemic. There is an excitement for more regional collaboration.
“It’s equally important for our peers to be aware of the work here and the resources,” Martin said. “When we put together regional proposals on what the strengths are and how to come together (we have) stronger proposals.”
Cook noted a successful example of this whole process is the startup Inherent Targeting. The company is developing fluorescent imaging agents used to highlight nerves in surgery and improve outcomes. The technology has used all of the programs offered through OHSU Innovates to position the startup for success.
Earlier this week Inherent Targeting was announced as a finalist for the Angel Oregon Life and Bioscience investor event, which is organized by Oregon Entrepreneurs Network.
In 2021, OHSU had 100 invention disclosures, 28 patents issued and 120 license and option agreements, according to its most recent impact report. Activity was down from previous years due to disruption from the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the report. Six new startups were created last year and five are based in Oregon.
Free registration for Innovation Day is online. The event kicks off at 10 a.m. with a keynote from Paul R. Sanberg, president of the National Academy of Inventors.
