The eighth cohort of the Biomedical Innovation Challenge showcased its innovations and development plans during a lightning round of pitches and judges’ questions on June 4 in the Belfer Research Building.
The annual event serves as the culmination of BioVenture eLab’s entrepreneurial education program for Weill Cornell faculty and trainees who aspired to take the next step in translating their discoveries into fundable early-stage innovation projects. This year, five teams presented their innovations, as well as their plans to navigate the commercialization journeys ahead to catalyze their research into products aimed at changing patients’ lives.
“Innovation doesn't happen unless scientists and clinicians are willing to learn something new, to think differently and to pursue solutions beyond the current standard of care,” said Loren Busby, director of BioVenture eLab, noting how this latest class had evolved from researchers into entrepreneurs after completing the program. “This is the definition of entrepreneurship on which we rely in our program.”