Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1161554
Technology Accelerator Will Prevent Good Ideas From I N T H E F I E L D o f b i o m e d i c a l resea rch , idea s a r e e s p e c i a l l y precious, for who knows which one c ou l d h ol d t h e cure for a vexing d i s e a s e? A s a society, we cannot afford to lose possible solutions for cancer, diabetes or heart disease because of a complicated process to get them in the hands of physicians for the benefit of their patients. Precious time lost could mean precious lives lost. To this end, UT Health San Antonio in April announced TechNovum, a tech- nology commercialization accelerator. TechNovum starts with the germ of an idea and accelerates, or compresses, the amount of time it takes to move the idea to the next stage, such as to a life science spinoff company in an incubator. TechNovum will pair UT Health San Antonio faculty investigators with men- tors from the business community and coach them through the market validation of their biomedical products, prepara- tion of a business plan and pitch of their technologies. The inaugural five to eight teams of inventors, known as Founders, will undergo a rigorous and structured entrepreneurial ideation program that includes weekly course sessions a nd guest speakers. The accelerator program began in June and will continue through October 2019. It will wrap up with two days for the teams to demonstrate their products and present their business plans. One day will be reserved for accredited investors. The other will be open to the community. This is a critical advancement for our community and the world beyond. At the center of this commercialization accelerator is the promise of progress in science. Founders will build their business skills and gain knowledge of resources to translate ideas into products and compa- nies. This will get new discoveries and technologies into the world faster, and could mean the difference between living with a disease and being cured. For more than 50 years, UT Health San Antonio has provided an environment in which world-class scientists turn their discoveries into rea lity. One example is Jean Jiang, PhD, who occupies the Zachry Distinguished University Chair William L. Henrich, MD, MACP Going to Waste BY WILLIAM L. HENRICH, MD, MACP PRESIDENT AND PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE UT HEALTH SAN ANTONIO MEDICAL BRE AK THROUGHS ARE THE RESULT OF ARDUOUS RESE ARCH AND GRE AT EFFORT, BUT IF THE Y ARE NE VER TR ANSL ATED INTO NE W THER APIES, DRUGS OR TRE ATMENTS, THE Y BENEFIT NO ONE. 1 0❱❱❱❱❱ F E A T U R E