How it works
University research efforts often yield scientific breakthroughs that are not ready to be translated into real world applications. In an effort to bring the University of Rochester’s world-class research to life, UR Ventures has created the Technology Development Fund (TDF).
The TDF helps University researchers develop innovations to the point that they are ready for the marketplace. Funding, which supports technical and administrative staff salaries, equipment, and supplies (but not faculty members’ salaries or overhead), ranges from $40,000 to $100,000. Funded projects are expected to be completed within one year, but this period may be extended.
How to get involved
Become a donor!
You can get involved by giving directly to the TDF. After making your gift, you will get updates on the progress of the cutting-edge research projects that are receiving funding through the TDF.
Please contact Dina Uzri for more details or make a gift directly using our secure online giving form.
Case study
Harris (Handy) Gelbard, professor in the neurology department and director of the Center for Neural Development and Disease, received a TDF Award for a project entitled, “IND-enabling preclinical safety testing for URMC-099.” Handy used this award to conduct toxicology studies in order to de-risk his compound, URMC-099. With the results of these studies in hand, UR Ventures was able to license the compound to WavoDyne Therapeutics.
“The TDF support allowed us to take our first step in the IND-enabling process for URMC-099, a novel mixed-lineage kinase inhibitor,” said Handy. “It was developed at the URMC with the help of funding from the University’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute and the National Institutes of Health. It shows great promise as an anti-inflammatory, neurorestorative, and cardioprotective drug.”
Technological developments
Since the fall of 2010, we have funded 65 projects.
Over $5 million has been awarded to date.
The Technology Development Fund is funded by both internal funding and generous donations from friends of the University of Rochester.
Fund Manager
Dina is passionate about innovation and entrepreneurship and is inspired by the breadth of pioneering research taking place at the University of Rochester. She is eager to support the advancement and commercialization of new technologies from the University to address real-world market needs. Prior to moving to Rochester, Dina spent 12 years in San Diego where she worked at the cross-section of business and science in both early-stage startups and at a large global healthcare firm. Most recently Dina was the Site Head for BioLabs San Diego where she supported biotech startups and promoted innovation and entrepreneurship in the SoCal ecosystem.