The licensing team at the Innovation Institute is often the first point of contact for Pitt innovators with the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. They are the ones who review invention disclosures, initiate the process to protect the intellectual property of a new Pitt innovation and direct innovators to the programs and resources for their commercialization journeys.
One of the team’s newest members is Andy Daniel, who joined Pitt this year from the University of California San Francisco, where he had been a postdoctoral scholar conducting translational neuroscience research at the cutting edge of genomics, neurotechnology, and machine learning.
Tell us a little about your journey to Pitt?
My path to Pitt has been anything but direct. I’m originally from the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia, and since moving to the U.S. for college, I have lived in Chicago, New York City, Saint Louis, San Francisco, and now in Poland, near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border. My curiosity about biology and improving human health led me to obtain a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering. Along the way, an interest in translating laboratory discoveries into technologies and therapeutics that directly impact patients led me to become a co-inventor on a few patents, intern at a technology transfer office, and to become a registered patent agent.
What drew you to Pitt’s Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship?
My interest in biomedical innovation and the components required to develop a sustainable ecosystem has only grown. Pitt has built one of the strongest innovation ecosystems among research universities, with outstanding strengths in biomedical research, engineering, health sciences, and entrepreneurship. I was particularly drawn to the opportunity to work alongside talented inventors across many disciplines and help them navigate the commercialization process. The Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship provides a unique environment where scientific discovery, intellectual property, industry collaboration, and startup creation all come together to maximize the impact of university research. In addition, my colleagues have a wealth of knowledge and experience, and the collegiality I am experiencing now was already evident during my interviews and made the prospect of joining the team all the more appealing.
Since arriving, what has stood out the most to you about the Pitt innovation ecosystem?
Researchers are genuinely excited to engage with commercialization and to learn about the process, and there is also a strong willingness across the university to work across disciplines. Whether it’s faculty, students, clinicians, entrepreneurs, or industry partners, there is a shared commitment to translating ideas into technologies that can improve lives. I’ve also been impressed by the breadth of innovation happening at Pitt, from therapeutics and medical devices to software, AI, and advanced materials.
What is the focus area of your Pitt portfolio?
I primarily work with life sciences innovations, including therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices, and biotechnology platforms. My role involves evaluating new inventions, developing intellectual property strategies, working with outside patent counsel, identifying commercial opportunities, and helping connect researchers with industry partners or supporting those who want to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities themselves. Ultimately, my goal is to help ensure that promising discoveries have the best opportunity to reach patients and create meaningful societal impact.
You have co-authored three patents of your own as a postdoctoral researcher and last year became a registered patent agent. How does this experience equip you to assist Pitt innovators in approaching the protection of their ideas and discoveries?
Having been on both sides of the invention disclosure process gives me a perspective that I hope is valuable to Pitt inventors. As a researcher, I understand the excitement of making a discovery, the pressures of publishing, and the unseen effort and low points in between the highs that are often celebrated. As a patent agent, I understand how intellectual property is carefully assessed and can be strategically used to support commercialization. My own experience has taught me that successful innovation isn’t simply about obtaining patents; it’s about understanding what makes a discovery valuable and having the right systems and strategies in place to support long-term impact. I enjoy helping researchers think through these questions while keeping their scientific goals at the forefront.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not working to bring Pitt innovations from the lab to the market?
Outside of work, I’m an avid reader with interests spanning the history of technology, science fiction, philosophy, and poetry. I enjoy exploring places and learning about the history behind them. Whether I’m reading, traveling, or spending time with family and friends, I appreciate opportunities to learn something new.
