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May Innovation
Mind Your Matter
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Unlocking the Complexity
of the Immune System
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A Conversation with UCSF Innovators
Max Krummel and Michael Kattah
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The groundbreaking "ImmunoProfiler" and "AutoImmune Profiler" initiatives at UCSF stand as testaments to the power of collaborative science. In this engaging discussion, visionary researchers Max Krummel and Michael Kattah delve into the genesis and ambitious aims of these projects. They offer a candid look at the dynamic landscape of cross-sector partnerships, exploring both the hurdles and the remarkable advantages of bridging the worlds of academia and industry.
Join us for an insightful glimpse into their future endeavors, where cutting-edge technologies like single-cell sequencing and in vitro perturbation studies promise to unlock even deeper understandings of the immune system.
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“This isn't just an academic question. This is a question that is important for pharma companies… if you are putting the right drugs in the right patient, you're going to get better results.”
Max Krummel, PhD.
UCSF Department of Pathology
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Empowering Female Founders in Biotech:
Join Our UCSF Panel & Networking Event!
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Calling all aspiring and current female entrepreneurs in the UCSF biotech ecosystem!
UCSF Innovation Ventures' Catherine Smith, Dasha Bubman, and Todd Pazdera are thrilled to co-host an inspiring Female Founder Panel and Networking event in partnership with Bakar Bio Labs, QB3, BEVC, and Biotech Ceiling Breaker!
When: Wednesday, May 21st, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Where: UCSF's Parnassus campus - 521 Parnassus Ave,
Clinical Sciences Building - Room 101
Catherine Smith, Senior Business Development Manager at UCSF, will lead a dynamic panel featuring: Chelsea Bahney, Founder and CEO of Hydronovo, Nikole Kimes, CEO of Siolta Therapeutics, and Widya Mulyasamita from BEVC.
This is a must-attend event for anyone interested in:
- Learning from successful female founders in the biotech space.
- Understanding the journey from UCSF research to company creation.
- Building a supportive community of entrepreneurial colleagues.
- Exploring funding and partnership opportunities.
Don't miss this opportunity to be inspired and connect!
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Fireside Chat with Hal Barron:
CEO and Founder of Altos Labs
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Imagine a world where the boundaries of human lifespan are being radically redefined. Now, picture hearing directly from the visionary leading the charge: Hal Barron, MD, CEO/Founder of Altos Labs.
Join us for an unmissable event where Hal Barron, the former President of R&D at GlaxoSmithKline, sits down for an intimate conversation with Stephanie Marrus, UCSF's Managing Director of Entrepreneurship.
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When: May 28, 5:30 PM
Where: UCSF Mission Bay, in person
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Hal will share invaluable perspectives from his vantage point at Altos Labs, the groundbreaking longevity company that shattered biotech venture capital records with a staggering $3 billion in startup funding, backed by Jeff Bezos and premier VCs. With a Board boasting three Nobel Laureates and the strategic recruitment of Hal from GSK's senior leadership, Altos Labs' pedigree speaks for itself.
Prepare to be challenged as Hal, counterintuitively, speaks about why 2025 is a promising era in academia. He'll discuss his remarkable career trajectory, his core management philosophy, the art of navigating the transition from academic research to the fast-paced world of industry, strategic considerations of building a for-profit enterprise, and the shift from Big Pharma to the startup culture.
Get your tickets now because space is limited.
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Per ardua ad astra
Out of this World Science and Innovation
| | Experience a firsthand account from NASA Astronaut Dr. Kate Rubins, sharing her thrilling experiences and insights into cutting-edge spaceflight research and development. Dr. Rubins served aboard the International Space Station as flight engineer on two expeditions. Across her long-duration spaceflights, she has four spacewalks and a total of 300 days in space. | | |
When: May 29, 5:30 PM
Where: UCSF Byers Auditorium, Genentech Hall
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But the journey doesn't end there. Microbiologist Dr. Charles Chiu and orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Aenor Sawyer will join Dr. Rubins for a UCSF Space Health panel and a fascinating discussion exploring how the unique science and technology pioneered for space exploration can ignite groundbreaking innovation right here on Earth in health and life sciences.
Space is endless, but Byers Auditorium is limited. RSVP today:
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Is Angel Financing a Source for your Startup?
Panel Session with Life Science Angels
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Inside the Investor Mindset: Stephanie Marrus Hosts Insightful Panel with Life Science Angels
Stephanie Marrus, Managing Director of Entrepreneurship at UCSF, moderated a dynamic and informative panel featuring three prominent members of Life Science Angels: Peter A. Socarras, JD, MS, President and Board Director; Sammy Datwani, PhD, Board Director; and Vlad Hogenhuis, MD, MBA. The discussion shed light on how angel investors differ from venture capitalists, outlined what angels look for in early-stage startups, and offered strategic advice for entrepreneurs eager to make their pitch stand out. The event provided a rare inside look at the decision-making process behind early-stage life science investments.
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2025 Catalyst Summer Internship Now Open!
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Join the team that launched a thousand technologies.
The Catalyst Internship provides an opportunity to be part of an innovative project team to learn about early translational research and the process of translating academic discoveries into products for patient benefit.
The primary focus for Catalyst Summer Interns is to draft Target Product Profiles (TPPs) for the 2025 Catalyst Awardees. While creating the TPPs, interns will learn about important aspects of translating an idea into a project.
Approximate commitment: 30-40 total hours over Summer 2025. This allows for flexibility with respect to fitting in other activities and commitments (other internships, summer jobs, vacations, etc.).
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Catalyst Summer Interns will:
- Attend the workshops/seminars focused on TPPs and Innovation & Entrepreneurship in June, July, and August (exact dates TBD)
- Work with the 2025 Catalyst Awardee project teams to draft a TPP
- Participate in the TPP presentation to the Catalyst Industry Advisor Committee in August 2025
- Be invited to and participate in other entrepreneurial education opportunities, fireside chats, etc.
| | The future of healthcare is calling you | | Innovation Ventures Contributes to European Innovation Ecosystem... | |
Roopa Ramamoorthi, Director of our Catalyst Program and InVent Fund, recently represented UCSF at the kick-off of the first SPARK Western Switzerland pre-incubation cohort, hosted by the Innovation Office at the University of Basel. While there, she delivered a three-hour workshop on Target Product Profile (TPP) development.
Additionally, Roopa met with the Novartis Venture Fund in Basel, facilitated by Dave Morris, Vice Chancellor of Innovation Ventures.
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...And, European Innovation Ecosystem
Contributes to Innovation Ventures!
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Spark Nordic Visits UCSF
SPARK Nordics, the translational accelerator with members from Finland, Norway, and Denmark, visited UCSF Innovation Ventures on May 1st and were hosted by the Catalyst program.
Their delegation consisted of twenty-eight attendees, including the program leadership and innovators. The innovators pitched their ideas and received questions and feedback from the Innovation Ventures leadership that was in attendance.
Dave Morris presented the future vision for Innovation Ventures.
The others that presented included Todd Pazdera on the Engagement and Opportunity Development Program, Charles Hart on the Small Molecule Discovery Center and NSF-iCorps, Stephanie Marrus on the Global Entrepreneurship Course, Roopa Ramamoorthi on Catalyst and InVent, and Aenor Sawyer on the Innovator Enrichment program.
The SPARK Nordics have visited annually for a few years, and it gives an opportunity to exchange our knowledge and perspectives around advancing products for patient benefit in different geographies.
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Igniting Healthcare Innovation!
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UCSF NSF I-Corps Delivers Explosive
Customer Discovery Training!
Launch your healthcare innovation into orbit! UCSF NSF I-Corps just wrapped an intense customer discovery training for therapeutics, diagnostics, devices, digital health, and platforms.
8 teams ignited over 100 interviews, generating thousands of crucial insights!
UCSF's powerhouse National Science Foundation I-Corps program is now a driving force within the new Northwest NSF I-Corps Hub, a collaborative super-network led by UC Berkeley and including innovation powerhouses like UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Santa Cruz, Oregon State University, the University of Washington, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Unlock $50K in NSF funding and a 3x higher chance of SBIR grants! I-Corps alumni have already raised a staggering $3.16 BILLION!
Don't just dream it – build it! UCSF NSF I-Corps: Fueling the next generation of healthcare breakthroughs.
Build your future.
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Catalyst Awardees Present to Investors at
"Born in California"
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UC Startups Showcase Potential Game-Changers in Cancer and Fibrotic Disease Therapies
Investors at the recent "Born in California" event got a glimpse into potentially transformative medical breakthroughs emerging from the University of California. Kopra Bio, a Catalyst Award recipient with Alex Haddad, Manish Aghi, and Noriyuki Kasahara, presented a novel cancer immunotherapy demonstrating a significant increase in survival rates for aggressive brain cancer in preclinical models. Another standout, Sphinxion Therapeutics, based on Julie Saba's research, is advancing gene therapies for rare and common fibrotic diseases, showing promising results in animal studies. The event connected these and other innovative UC startups with key investors seeking Seed and Series A funding.
Read all about it!
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UCSF Innovator Elected to the
National Academy of Sciences
UCSF's Dr. Edward Chang Elected to the National Academy of Sciences! A monumental achievement for a pioneering neurosurgeon whose groundbreaking work is unlocking the secrets of speech and leading to revolutionary neuroprosthetics.
Dr. Chang is well-known in the offices of Innovation Ventures, where he has received support from our Catalyst Program and business development team to launch his technologies.
Dr. Chang is joined by two UCSF colleagues, developmental geneticist Thomas Kornberg, PhD, and virologist Raul Andino-Pavlovsky, PhD.
More
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Neurosurgeon Edward Chang, MD
Joan and Sandy Weill Chair of
Neurological Surgery
University of California, San Francisco,
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Breakthrough Prize for
Transformative Treatment
UCSF Luminary Stephen Houser has played a pivotal part in identifying the cause of multiple sclerosis, leading to a new generation of game-changing therapies.
“Multiple sclerosis is in many ways a poster child for what is possible,” Hauser said. “We all want a world free of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s and ALS and stroke. And autism and psychosis and depression. But to make this happen, we need to nurture the next generation of young people, and they really need encouragement because it’s a very difficult path.”
Hauser, a UCSF professor of neurology and director of the Weill Institute for Neurosciences, was recognized April 5 for overturning “the scientific consensus on the mechanism of MS, identifying the immune system’s B cells as the primary driver of damage to nerve cells.” The award also cited his instrumental role in developing therapies that have “revolutionized modern treatment of the disease.”
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Awardee Stephen Houser
Weill Institute for Neurosciences
University of California, San Francisco,
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