In recent years, St. Louis has been recognized as a growing city, with numerous opportunities emerging in medicine and technology. The internationally celebrated Cortex Innovation District has been a significant driver, accelerating economic growth in the St. Louis region.
Earlier this month, the WashU Medicine Clinical Research Training Center (CRTC) TL1 trainees had a chance to partner with the WashU Office of Technology Management (OTM), which is appropriately situated in the Cortex area. During their visit, our trainees were able to see firsthand the power of innovation and collaboration in translating scientific findings into impactful solutions for the world.
Throughout the day, our trainees learned from leaders and program participants about what the OTM offers and the impact it has had.
They were welcomed by Leslie Roettger, Director of Communications. After our trainees introduced themselves, Leena Prabhu, PhD, MBA, Director of Business Development and Licensing, provided an overview of the center and its mission in tech transfer. The primary goal of the OTM is to help WashU innovators transfer their technology from the lab to the global marketplace. The office evaluates technologies, protects and prosecutes intellectual property, and supports researchers in advancing their innovations and commercializing their research. Not only does the process of translating research into impact directly align with the CRTC’s mission, but given that one of the TL1 focus areas is entrepreneurship, connecting with the OTM will be an invaluable resource.
To further highlight the center’s importance, TL1 Director Jay Piccirillo, MD, FACS led a discussion with OTM Business Development Director Craig Weilbaecher, PhD. Dr. Piccirillo shared how he collaborated with the OTM to develop his internationally recognized Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT). As a groundbreaking tool for measuring consequences of rhinosinusitis, he emphasized the crucial support provided by the OTM in advancing the innovation and obtaining licensing. Since its inception, SNOT has been translated into over 70 languages, which has allowed the instrument to be adopted around the world for academic and clinical uses.
What was equally inspiring was learning about how the OTM is cultivating their own leaders in tech transfer. Their Venture Fellows program directed by Karen Gheesling Mullis, PhD provides experiential learning in venture capital investing and company creation. The inaugural cohort just finished their time in the program, and they expressed how beneficial it was. Throughout the six-month program, the WashU researchers learned the steps in the company creation process from pitch deck generation to exit opportunity evaluation. Whether engaging across disciplines with other trainees, reviewing pitch decks for several WashU biotech startups, or connecting with the St. Louis entrepreneurial ecosystem, this program demonstrated the power of collaboration to drive innovation.
The presentation culminated with a panel discussion from Nathan Han, PhD, Courtney Jungers, PhD, and Charles Hanford, JD who are part of the OTM’s Business Development and Licensing Team. They discussed careers in tech transfer as well as their journeys to get to where they are today. Their level of enthusiasm and commitment to innovators demonstrated why the OTM has been able to garner so much success with WashU innovators.
This visit to the OTM was not only an opportunity to learn more about what their office does, but to listen, learn, engage, and connect. The OTM staff expressed gratitude to the TL1 program for bringing trainees to meet with them and believes other programs could benefit from building relationships with their team and becoming more familiar with the resources their office offers. Throughout the day, our trainees asked panelists thought-provoking questions, and the visit ended with a networking lunch. This group represented the TL1 program well with their readiness to share their ideas, and we are fortunate to have such bright and passionate trainees that are preparing to be leaders in translational medicine.
All across WashU, it is our mission to develop inquisitive intellectuals, drive groundbreaking innovations through research, and build a strong network in our region. The OTM has been instrumental in supporting numerous WashU startups, and with their ideal location in the Cortex, this situates these innovators to have a profound impact in St. Louis and beyond. As our TL1 Trainees continue to conduct research, we’re hopeful that they will continue the trend of translating their scientific findings into true change for the world, and we’re glad that they’ll have the OTM by their side to support them.