Author: Asher Alt

How To: Build an Effective Start-Up Pitch Deck

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A strong pitch deck is a must for any academic entrepreneur aiming to take their research to the next step and launch a start-up. Decks are the foundation of how ideas are communicated in business but translating years of rigorous research and ambitious plans into a concise and digestible presentation requires strategy, clarity, and a deep understanding of your audience in the market. So, how can you create a pitch deck that captures attention and inspires confidence in your start-up? 1. Start with your Elevator Pitch The opening slide of your deck sets the tone for the rest of your Read More …

I’ve Submitted my Invention … Now What?: Or, The First Steps with Emory OTT!

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  A faculty member has a great invention. They submit an invention disclosure. What happens next? Emory’s Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) is an Emory researcher’s first stop on the road to commercialization. From the moment a disclosure is submitted, our staff works to ensure a smooth and efficient process for all parties involved. Each invention disclosure is assigned a tech ID number and OTT licensing associate. The licensing associate will then have some initial conversations with the faculty member about their goals for the product or project and the type of funding surrounding their research. From this point on, Read More …

Have Patience with Patents: A Guide to Utility, Design, and Plant Patents

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If a prospective patent enthusiast Googles “patents explained,” they can find maybe two websites in the top results that aren’t riddled with complicated definitions and explanations. However, patents are a subject that anyone can find fascinating as long as they receive the information in an interesting and relatable way. Without further delay, let’s get into it! Let’s start with the definition: Patents are “the granting of a property right by a sovereign authority to an inventor,” according to Investopedia. This simply means that a patent is a government’s way of promising that if an inventor discloses information about their invention, Read More …

The ABCs of Start-up Funding

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The lessons learned from fundraising for your childhood sports team may come in handy as you begin to grow your start-up. While 29% of start-ups fail after running out of money, series funding is a useful way to overcome this obstacle. Fundraising may be time consuming, but it is necessary to find investors to prevent your new business from running out of money before it can even begin. This process begins with pre-seed funding, where the founders of a startup raise money from themselves, friends, family, or even an angel investor to begin the development of a prototype or proof-of-concept before moving Read More …

Remaining in research, outside the lab: OTT intern reflects on her journey into tech transfer

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When I began my PhD in Biomedical Science, I always envisioned myself making new discoveries and making the world a better place. I committed myself to research and I wanted to be a leader in the field.  My doctoral research enhanced my interest in molecular pathways and how deviations in these pathways can lead to various diseases. However, after completing my PhD, I decided to move away from research for a while and transition into academia. Working as an Associate Physiology Professor, I have educated students with various educational backgrounds and helped to enhance their critical thinking skills. While teaching Read More …

New Perspectives: My “invigorating” experience as an OTT intern

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Upon embarking in my graduate studies, I was struck by the vast amount of amazing research that happens on a daily basis. On the other hand, I felt disheartened by the substantial amount of research that failed to make a tangible impact in the “real world.” This realization highlighted the critical importance of effectively commercializing discoveries and optimizing technologies for their practical application. I aspired to pursue a career with a direct, translational impact. To gain a more comprehensive perspective, I joined Emory’s Biotech Consulting Club. Through this club, I discovered its intimate collaboration with Emory’s Office of Technology Transfer Read More …

Data Use Agreements 101

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In the age of technology and data collection, the privacy and protection of data is a priority for both those who collect and those who utilize data. A Data Use Agreement (DUA) is a useful tool for the transfer of non-public data or use-restricted data that has been developed by private, government, or nonprofit organizations. What is a Data Use Agreement? A DUA, also sometimes called a data transfer agreement (DTA), is a legal contract that serves to protect data and confidentiality. It lays out the terms under which an entity – like a university or research center – can Read More …

How to strengthen your patent

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Why do we care about patents? If you create something – whether it’s a medical device, a new type of shoelace, or a better method of washing clothes – you have the chance to protect your idea and earn money off it. A patent is a publicly available, government-issued document that gives certain rights to an invention, such as preventing others from making, using, or selling your invention. Patents provide crucial protection to intellectual property, the intangible creations of the human intellect. When you apply for a patent, it’s processed within the administrative and legal framework of the patent office. Read More …

Emory’s Biotechnology Consulting Club Transforms Lab Innovations into Market Successes

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Many innovators struggle to bring their discoveries to a wider audience. Emory’s Biotechnology Consulting Club (EBCC) steps in to overcome this hurdle by creating a space “where business and science meet.” Making connections inside Emory and out Emory’s Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) and Biolocity connect start-up enterprises with student-led EBCC teams for semester-long consulting projects. It’s mutually beneficial: Start-up companies increase their chances of getting funding by collaborating with students to perform market analyses, identify competitors, and facilitate overall company growth. Students get to improve their skills and knowledge through contact with experts across various disciplines. Since EBCC was founded in 2019, it has Read More …

Debunking 3 myths about entrepreneurship

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Steve Jobs founded Apple. Rihanna founded Fenty Beauty. Arianna Huffington founded the Huffington Post. Each of these successful individuals risked it all to start their new businesses. Yet, daunting misconceptions about what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur often prevent others from following in their footsteps. But there are many types of entrepreneurship and even more types of entrepreneurs, and one’s unique experience could be just what they need to find success. Here, we’re setting the record straight on three common myths about entrepreneurship. 1. Entrepreneurs are always young. While the stereotypical image of an entrepreneur is someone young. Read More …

An Overview of Sleep Apnea

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Approximately 30 million people have sleep apnea, but only six million are correctly diagnosed with sleep apnea in the United States. When we’re asleep, our bodily functions keep us breathing as normal without our conscious awareness. However, sleep apnea causes a person to stop breathing entirely, and the lack of oxygen forces them to wake up and breathe. The abrupt, repeated pattern of awakening prevents the person from getting restful sleep and can have other harmful repercussions. What is Sleep Apnea? There are several but the three most common are obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), central sleep apnea (CSA), and treatment-emergent Read More …

15 Good Minutes: Khalid Salaita, PhD

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Khalid Salaita, PhD has been studying the connection between chemistry and mechanical forces in his laboratory at Emory for 14 years. After completing his PhD at Northwestern University, where he studied material science and interfaces and surfaces, he completed his postdoc at UC Berkeley studying the assembly of receptor tyrosine kinase proteins in the plasma membrane. He has been leading his lab at Emory ever since, studying a wide range of questions in the chemistry field. Not only is he a professor of chemistry and a program faculty of biomedical engineering, but he also is affiliated with the Winship Cancer Read More …

Q&A With Annual Celebration 2024 Awardees: Eric Ortlund, PhD

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Eric Ortlund, PhD, is the recipient for Emory OTT’s Deal of the Year Award at the 2024 Annual Celebration of Technology and Innovation. Ortlund and his research team used a structure-guided approach to exploit a newly discovered polar interaction to lock agonists in a consistent orientation. This enabled the discovery of the first low nanomolar LRH-1 agonist. In 2023, Emory University executed an exclusive high net worth license with Allonix Therapeutics for this technology. Can you introduce yourself? My name is Eric Ortlund. I’m a professor of biochemistry in the School of Medicine. I run a research lab here that Read More …

Q&A With Annual Celebration 2024 Awardees: Louise Hecker, PhD

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Louise Hecker, PhD, is the EmpowHER Award recipient at Emory OTT’s 2024 Annual Celebration of Technology and Innovation. Hecker is a prominent researcher in the field of regenerative biology and specializes in pulmonology. Her research primarily focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying lung fibrosis and developing novel therapeutic approaches for treating this debilitating disease. Can you introduce yourself? I’m Louise and I am an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Pulmonary Division. We do a wide range of projects, under a big umbrella. We study aging and injury repair. We’re not trying to necessarily find the fountain of youth Read More …

Q&A with Annual Celebration 2024 Awardees: Santiago Arconada Alvarez

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Santiago Arconada Alvarez is one of five members of the team receiving the Inclusivity, Diversity, and Equity Award (IDEAward). Their technology, Low English Proficiency Nurse Communication Tool, is an application that revolutionizes how nurses communicate with patients who have limited English language proficiency and their caregivers. This novel mobile app enables the clinical team to communicate using common phrases in the patient’s language, images, and real-time translation. Can you introduce yourself? I am Santiago Arconada Alvarez and I’m a product development team lead working on medical apps for clinical research. Currently, I co-lead a group called the AppHatchery at Emory Read More …

Q&A with Annual Celebration 2024 Awardees: Erica Evans

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Erica Evans is one of six team members receiving the 2023 Corporate Partnership Award. Partnering with Honeywell, Evans and team are developing multiple diagnostics for sickle cell disease via a multi-pronged, multi-year partnership. Can you introduce yourself? I’m Erica and I’m a research assistant at Dr. Vivien Sheehan’s lab. I’ve been working on the microfluidics projects with her and Dr. Wilbur Lam at Georgia Tech. For about two years, we’d had a prototype for a sickle cell disease, red blood cell adhesion device. My main priority was to get that device to a state where we could reliably distinguish between Read More …

Q&A with Annual Celebration 2024 Awardees: David Myers, PhD

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David Myers, PhD, is one of three team members to receive the 2023 Innovation of the Year award. The technology, A Bio-Inspired Skin Interface Method for Continuous Access to Blood for Measurement and Therapy, is a wearable, continuous blood collection device that can monitor blood-based biomarkers with reduced risk of blood clots. Can you introduce yourself? I’m David Myers. I’m an assistant professor in biomedical engineering. I studied mechanical engineering for my PhD, and then trained in hematology for my postdoc. What initially drew you to your field? I love seeing things move and how stuff works. Can you tell Read More …

Breaking Down Intellectual Property in Pop Culture

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Intellectual property, or IP, is an ancient idea that dictates how we consume today’s pop culture. Without IP, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy our favorite shows from the comfort of our couch, quote iconic movie lines, or even immerse ourselves in the latest bestselling novel. IP is crucial to pop culture, but what is it, exactly? Intellectual property is “a work or investigation that is the result of creativity to which one has rights and for which one may apply for a patent, copyright, trademark, etc.” Sound vague? It’s supposed to. Part of the reason is because of IP’s Read More …

Sickle cell disease: causes, complications, and cures

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What is sickle cell disease? Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of red blood cell disorders caused by misshapen hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that delivers oxygen throughout the body. Normal red blood cells are disk shaped, which allows them to flow smoothly through blood vessels. In contrast, the SCD genetic mutation causes the red blood cells to be crescent or sickle shaped. These sickle cells become rigid and sticky inside of the blood vessels, which blocks and slows blood flow to the body. Who is at risk? SCD impacts nearly 100,000 Americans. In the United States, SCD Read More …

Artificial intelligence in healthcare: How machines can improve patient experience and outcomes

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Technology has become an integral part of our lives – including medicine. Now, healthcare industries are harnessing novel innovations, including artificial intelligence (AI), to improve many aspects of care. AI has been applied in patient diagnosis and monitoring, treatment protocol development, radiology, and drug development. While some of this might seem like science fiction, medical professionals use it every day to better the lives of their patients. How AI improves healthcare AI allows us not only to analyze data, but also to find their subtle and complex patterns. Machine learning algorithms, specifically, are responsible for these advancements. Engineers have developed Read More …