December 12 is Tech Transfer Professionals Day as designated by the Association of University Technology Management (AUTM) in celebration of the anniversary of the passage of the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980. This act gave universities receiving federal research funding the responsibility to protect the intellectual property arising from research and licensing it to entities committed to bringing new products and services to market.
At Pitt, intellectual property management and technology transfer are the domain of the Innovation Institute, part of the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIE). The Office of Industry and Economic Partnerships, also part of the OIE, works alongside the Innovation Institute to cultivate relationships with industry partners and investors who may be interested in licensing Pitt-developed technologies. The people in these units are professionals in IP law, new venture creation, industry partnership, licensing, and more.
Today, in celebration of Tech Transfer Professionals Day, get to know more about Maria Vanegas, Director of Licensing at the Innovation Institute.
What was your education/experience before coming to the Innovation Institute?
I earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Miami and my doctorate in Immunology from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. After my doctoral training, I began an internship at Mayo Clinic Ventures, where I gained experience in various aspects of technology transfer, including business development, patent application, and licensing. I thoroughly enjoyed the work and at the end of the internship I was retained by Mayo Clinic Ventures as a Patent Liaison. Shortly thereafter, I moved to Pittsburgh for the opportunity to become a licensing associate at the Pitt Innovation Institute. My focus for the past 18 years has been the patenting and licensing of technologies in the life sciences space, including research reagents, diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics ranging from small molecules to biologics, gene therapies and more.
What have been some of your most memorable experiences in working in academic innovation?
I’ve been working in tech transfer for nearly 20 years, and what I love most about this profession is the opportunity to learn something new every day. While I opted not to follow a conventional career path in the lab, my Ph.D. honed my critical thinking skills, enabling me to evaluate new ideas, connect with scientists, and effectively present business opportunities to potential licensing partners. The incredible science happening at Pitt keeps my work both interesting and rewarding. Additionally, I enjoy interacting with the faculty. It’s wonderful to get to know them and witness their passion for their work.
How has the Pitt innovation ecosystem evolved to be more supportive of innovators?
The most significant change I have experienced is the growing availability and awareness of gap funding sources beyond the traditional federal research funding paradigm for innovators to explore the commercialization of their discoveries. Things like the Commercialization Gap Funds, the national NSF I-Corps program, and pre-commercialization funding from UPMC Enterprises, in addition to pitch competitions and funding from regional accelerators like LifeX and AlphaLab, have given Pitt innovators more opportunities to explore the commercial potential of their innovations and bridge the gap between the lab and the market.
In addition, policy changes within the University affording innovators increased flexibility to pursue commercialization and receive a greater share of the financial rewards have also fueled entrepreneurial ambitions. Overall, there’s been a notable shift in the innovation mindset at Pitt, which is very exciting and makes our role at the Innovation Institution crucial, as we invest in more resources for faculty, staff, and student education and engagement.
What is your advice to graduate students, postdocs or early career faculty who may be interested in exploring a career in technology transfer?
My advice is to submit an invention disclosure and get involved in the process. Our licensing team comes from the lab, and each of us has taken a different path to technology transfer. There isn’t just one way to enter this profession, but it’s a great field to apply the skills you developed during your Ph.D. and postdoc work.