Medical research charity LifeArc has launched a Technology Transfer Fellowship programme with the aim of addressing a shortfall in the skills of aspiring technology transfer professionals.
The programme will see the participation of four life science technology transfer organisations and will offer a fully funded 12-month period of fellowship from March 2019.
It has been launched in partnership with Imperial Innovations, Queen Mary Innovation and UCL Business (UCLB), the technology transfer offices for Imperial College London, Queen Mary University London and University College London
Imperial Innovations, Queen Mary Innovations, UCLB and LifeArc will host the Fellows, who will complete 3-month rotations at each technology transfer office. Fellows will receive training on distinct topics at each transition.
Successful candidates will have a background in life sciences, a genuine aptitude and enthusiasm for describing complex scientific information in accessible terms combined with a passion for driving technologies along their respective development paths towards the patients who need them.
Dr Andrew Tingey, head of healthcare licensing at Imperial Innovations, said: “We’re delighted to be joining LifeArc, Queen Mary Innovation and UCLB in hosting LifeArc Fellows. Our long-established internship programme has supported young professionals in their development in the field of technology transfer for more than five years, and we look forward to working with the first intake of LifeArc Fellows.”
The participation of four life science technology transfer organisations in the training will provide the new Fellows with exposure to a broad range of activities, expertise, science, technology mix and technology transfer practices. Each technology transfer office will provide a different Fellowship training experience:
- Queen Mary Innovation: Early stage engagement with scientists, assessment of technology disclosures (including due diligence and basics of intellectual property management) and proof of concept funding;
- Imperial Innovations: the formation and management of spin-out companies;
- LifeArc: Early stage drug discovery (target selection, due diligence and intellectual property management with focus on ‘composition of matter’ patents, research collaborations);
- UCLB: Licensing transactions, deal valuation and marketing.
Andrew Farquharson, LifeArc’s executive director, technology transfer and business development, said: “The scheme is a collaborative effort among the technology transfer community to enhance the quality of services we provide to our academics, funders and industrial partners. Participating Fellows will not only benefit from training but from insight into four of London’s premier life sciences technology transfer offices. Ultimately we, and our TTO partners, expect this programme to help more valuable life sciences innovations make it to the patients who need them.”
