The Innovation Institute celebrated its 13th Annual Celebration of Innovation this week. (Read a recap here.) In his welcoming remarks, Pitt's Senior Vice Chancellor for Research Rob Rutenbar discussed how Pittsburgh will move past the disappointment (or relief) of not being selected for Amazon's next headquarters by continuing to organically build on its strengths.
The Pitt McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine has racked up some impressive numbers in its 25-year existence. Researchers affiliated with McGowan have had 140 patents issued, filed more than 900 invention disclosures; had their technology licensed more than 170 times and have spun out nearly 30 companies from the University. We sat down with McGowan's director since 2011, William Wagner, to discuss the reasons behind its success and what exciting things are happening in its labs that are changing the way patients are treated for a wide range of diseases and injuries.
Blake Dube's transformation from undergraduate engineering student into CEO of his own company, Aeronics, happened in a rapid-fire manner when he and fellow students Mark Spitz and Alec Kaija were encouraged by their professors to explore the commercial potential of their research. They took full advantage of the programs and resources available through the Innovation Institute and its Big Idea Center for student entrepreneurship. Aeronics won prizes in the Randall Family Big Idea Competition, the Michael G. Wells Healthcare competition, the Kuzneski Innovation Cup. They participated in the Blast Furnace accelerator and received guidance and support from several mentors and entrepreneurs in residence. They also received support from the greater Pitt innovation ecosystem, including winning a prize in the Pitt Innovation Challenge (PInCh).
Pitt smashed its record for startups in Fiscal 2018, which concludes today. (Final numbers for the year will be reported next month.) One of the driving factors for the increase in startup activity is an evolution in policy at the university making it possible for faculty to take positions within a startup. Today we catch up with Globin Solutions, a recent startup formed from research from the lab of Dr. Mark Gladwin, led by Jason Rose, an assistant professor, who is the new company's CEO.