Duke University will launch its Research Translation and Commercialization effort in July to expand its capacity to generate more spinouts and accelerate discoveries.
Duke University has unveiled plans to dramatically overhaul its tech transfer operations with a significant administrative restructuring and additional resources made available.
Dubbed Research Translation and Commercialization (RTC), the initiative will launch on July 1 and will expand the university’s capacity to accelerate new discoveries and establish new spinouts, treatments and products.
RTC will complement the university’s Duke Science and Technology fundraising campaign, which aims to recruit high-calibre faculty and build collaborations with industry.
The Office of Research, led by interim vice-president for research R Sanders Williams, will be renamed to Office of Research and Innovation. Duke will also launch a national search for a permanent head of the office.
The office will include Translation and Commercialization, led by Robin Rasor, the current executive director of Licensing and Ventures.
It will also include Research Administration, led by associate vice-president for research Christopher Freel, and Scientific Integrity, led by vice-dean and associate vice-provost Geeta Swamy.
External Partnerships will serve as an expansion of the current corporate relations office. Duke will be seeking a national search for a leader.
The restructuring effort and additional investment follows feedback that a more robust, focused effort was needed to help bring Duke’s inventions to market through licensing or spinouts.
The university will also tap into its alumni network to help recruit C-suite management and provide angel investment.
Thierry Heles
Thierry Heles is editor-at-large of Global University Venturing and Global Corporate Venturing, and host of the Beyond the Breakthrough podcast.
