Venture Team Competition

On Tuesday, October 11th, the UCLA Business of Science Center (BSC) will host its 6th annual BSC Venture Team Competition. Throughout the 2015-2016 school year, student Venture Teams evaluated their assigned technology with regard to commercialization potential and provided recommendations regarding a path for commercialization. The finalists (listed below) will deliver a 10-minute investment-style pitch to a panel of experienced judges who will assess the potential of the technologies. The grand prize is $30,000 in proof-of-concept funding to accelerate the technology toward commercialization.

Thanks to UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute and  Perkins Coie LLP for making this event possible! For more information visit http://bit.ly/29jqICy.

The 2016 Venture Team Finalists are: 

1. Scott Kitchen, Ph.D. – Antiviral Tcell Therapy from Stem Cells
Researchers at UCLA have developed a therapeutic technology that combines the advances in gene therapy, stem cell technology and immune therapy. This technology enables the generation of anti-viral T cells from the stem cells of a patient who fails to generate effective anti-viral T cells. This approach involves harnessing stem cells from a patient and delivering into these cells a cloned human T cell receptor gene; the T-cell receptor is the receptor on T cells that recognizes antigens on pathogens and cancers (in this case, the antigen is the HIV gag protein). The modified stem cells will be re-introduced into the patient where the cells would develop into mature, anti-viral T cells that can functionally respond to antigen and produce responses specific to the patients’ infectious profile. 
Student Team: Theodore Kee

2. Neil Martin, MD – Device for Minimally Invasive Rapid Treatment of Intracranial Hemorrhage
Dr. Neil Martin has developed a minimally invasive image-guided cannula for hematoma evacuation from the brain. The cannula is designed to perform both suction and irrigation of the hematoma through a burr hole. With the use of a surgical stereotactic image guidance system and endoscopes, a safe and easy introduction into the hematoma is assured.
Student Team: Nikhilesh Bhatt, Rehan Karmali, Shayan Moazeni, & Shervin Sarji

3. Jau-Nian Chen, Ph.D and Ohyun Kwon, Ph.D. – Efsevin for Arterial Fibrillation
UCLA researchers in the Departments of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology and Chemistry and Biochemistry have identified a synthetic compound that possesses potent activity to restore coordinated contractions of the heart. The small molecule has been shown to suppress cardiac fibrillation in vivo by regulating Ca2+ homeostasis, this provides a pharmacological tool with the capacity to restore cardiac rhythmicity.
Student Team: Tiancheng Fang, Shahriyar Jahanbakhs, Binsen Li, & Scott McConnell

Go Metro to this event. Plan your trip on metro.net. 

Take a Lyft to #ILA2016 events this year! New users receive $50 in ride credit with the code: INNOVATELA.