March Innovation

Mind Your Matter

Growing an Innovation Community

A Word from UCSF Innovation Ventures

Vice Chancellor, David Morris

Hard to believe it’s already been 8 months – as the saying goes, “Time flies when you’re having fun!” I remain as grateful today as I was in August when I rejoined UCSF as the new Vice Chancellor of UCSF Innovation Ventures. Every day, I’m inspired by the brilliant researchers and clinicians at UCSF who are pioneering breakthroughs in healthcare—and our shared mission to help these innovations reach the patients who need them most.

Our office is both customer-focused and forward-looking, guided by a “market-first” approach that ensures we not only prioritize the discoveries with the strongest commercial potential but also guide early-stage technologies toward market success. By collaborating closely with industry partners and venture capital, we can accelerate the translation of UCSF’s cutting-edge science into real-world solutions—strengthening our position on the frontline of medical innovation.

At the heart of our efforts is a commitment to building a vibrant entrepreneurial community. Through dedicated mentor programs and targeted funding opportunities, we nurture fledgling technologies from the lab bench to viable healthcare products and successful startups. By supporting these promising ventures every step of the way, we aim to amplify UCSF’s impact on patient care and champion meaningful progress for all.  

David Morris, MD

Vice Chancellor of Business Development,

Innovation and Partnerships

UCSF Innovation Ventures



UCSF Innovation Showcase @JPM 2025

Chancellor Sam Hawgood made a powerful assertion of UCSF's position as a leading medical institution driving positive impact by translation of discoveries, it was the technology that took center stage with a dynamic showcase of frontline innovation in healthcare! Moderated by EVCP Catherine R. Lucey, MD, MACP, and Aenor Sawyer, MD, MS of UCSF Innovation Ventures, the event featured Vice Chancellor David Morris, MD, exploring "The Innovation Engine," Dr. Edward Chang unveiling advancements in building a foundation model of the human brain, and a presentation on AI – (“All Right, All Ready!”) led by Sara Murray, MD, MAS.

Showcasing the breadth of innovation emerging from UCSF, "Lightning Talks: Bright Ideas from UCSF Frontline Innovators" highlighted five companies founded at the university: EpiBiologics (Ann Lee-Karlon), Vevo Therapeutics (Nima Alidoust), Hydronovo (Chelsea Bahney), Fast Glioma (Shawn Hervey-Jumper), and Minutia (Katy Digovich).

The University's "HIGHLIGHTS - Tabletop Showcase" featured a diverse range of innovative projects and technologies.

Congratulations go out to the dedicated and creative UCSF JMP Planning Team from Innovation Ventures and Alumni Relations who, as the engine behind the UCSF Innovation Showcase @JPM 2025, were responsible for envisioning the concept to the nuts and bolts completion. Well done!





A Market First Approach

Todd Pazdera, Director of Business Development and Licensing at UCSF, sat down to discuss the work of the Engagement and Opportunity Development team. He highlights UCSF’s technology commercialization initiatives, focusing on the streamlined processes and programs they’ve created to evaluate, develop, and bring innovations from UCSF researchers to market—either through launching startups, or through partnerships with established healthcare companies.

Todd holds a PhD from Carnegie Mellon and spent roughly a decade in technology transfer at Mount Sinai School of Medicine before joining UCSF in 2012. Since then, he has led efforts to foster a more commercially driven, startup-centric approach to technology commercialization at the university.

Driven by a "market-first" approach, UCSF's business development and licensing teams prioritize innovations with commercial potential, categorize them for licensing, startup, or further research, and offer programs like Executive-in-Residence and Catalyst to bridge development gaps, ensuring research translates into impactful patient solutions and generates financial returns for inventors and the university.

You can read the whole interview here:

Driven by a "market-first" approach, UCSF's business development and licensing teams prioritize innovations with commercial potential, categorize them for licensing, startup, or further research, and offer programs like Executive-in-Residence and Catalyst to bridge development gaps, ensuring research translates into impactful patient solutions and generates financial returns for inventors and the university.

You can read the whole interview here:

AUTM 2025

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Equitable Innovation

Innovation Ventures has drafted the following diversity statement demonstrating our commitment to all our innovators equally.

California’s rich diversity and varied worldviews have been a key driver of the innovation and creative accomplishments that enrich the state. In keeping with that, the core mission of the University of California is to serve the state’s interests by achieving diversity, inclusion, and accessibility among students and employees.

Our office is committed to building a vibrant entrepreneurial community that champions diverse perspectives and embraces inclusion, ensuring that innovation flourishes to advance healthcare worldwide. We call upon all stakeholders to promote inclusivity and allyship, actively removing barriers to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of individuals from historically excluded populations.

We offer unwavering support for technological breakthroughs, research commercialization, and technology licensing to ensure equitable service to all parts of the community and contribute to the social fabric of California.