Commercialization Project Development Teams
Consult with experienced researchers and industry experts to bring your idea to market. The Indiana CTSI has two PDTs geared toward commercialization: the MedTech Commercialization PDT, which focuses on devices, and the Drug Commercialization PDT, which focuses on pharmaceutical treatments.
Find the Right Fit
The MedTech Commercialization PDT supports academic and clinical investigators who are working to advance their innovative medical devices and software ideas through early phase development toward commercialization and clinical use.
Team Members
- Chair: Tom O’Sullivan, PhD | University of Notre Dame
- Co-Chair: Sherry Harbin, PhD | Purdue University
- Regulatory Rep: Aaron Lottes, MBA, PhD | Purdue University
- Manager: Kara Garcia, PhD | IU School of Medicine-Evansville
- Andrew Brightman, PhD | Purdue University
- Garbriel Gruionu, PhD | IU School of Medicine
- Matt Waninger, PhD | Purdue University
- Matt Leevy, PhD | University of Notre Dame
- Danielle Soranno, MD | IU School of Medicine
- Ken Yoshida, PhD | Purdue University-Indianapolis
The Drug Development to Commercialization Program (PDT) is a comprehensive initiative designed to empower academic and clinical investigators to navigate the intricate process of transforming groundbreaking discoveries into market-ready therapeutics and diagnostics.
Our program provides expert guidance, resources, and support at every stage of the journey—from early-stage discovery and preclinical development to clinical trials, regulatory approval, and commercialization.
Team Members
- Chair: Andy Dahlem, PhD | IU School of Medicine
- Co-Chair: Rich Taylor, PhD | University of Notre Dame
- Regulatory Rep: Chris Caldwell, JD, MA, CIP | IU School of Medicine
- Manager: Padma Portonovo, PhD, MBA | IU School of Medicine
- Timothy Richardson, PhD | IU School of Medicine
- Brian Blagg, PhD | University of Notre Dame
- Ramaswamy Subramanian, PhD | Purdue University
- Zhong Yin-Zhang, PhD | Purdue University
- Adrienne Takacs, PhD | IU School of Medicine/Eli Lilly and Company
- Yvonne Lai, PhD | Indiana University
- Mark Kelley, PhD | IU School of Medicine
How It Works
Benefits to working with the Commercialization PDTs
The Commercialization PDTs Provide:
- Project Specific Mentorship: Experienced mentors offer personalized guidance and insights while protecting your intellectual property. This one-on-one mentorship is tailored to the unique needs of your research, providing invaluable support through the development process.
- Multidisciplinary Product Development Guidance: The team offers advice on how to navigate the multi-disciplinary landscape of product development from intellectual property considerations and regulatory compliance to manufacturing and marketing.
- Seed Funding: Provides essential seed funding to kickstart commercialization of your research and propel your innovation towards successful development.
Education and Mentorship Areas
- Customer Discovery and Market Analysis: Identify the customer, market, and need for your innovation, as well as any competitors in the field.
- Intellectual Property and Patent Law: Understand the intricacies of intellectual property and patent law to safeguard your innovations and navigate the legal landscape.
- Preclinical and Proof of Concept Studies: Gain insights into preclinical studies, including pharmacology and proof of concept testing, to build a strong foundation for clinical development.
- Assay Development (Drug): Learn best practices for developing robust assays, a critical component in validating and optimizing novel therapeutics and diagnostics.
- Optimization of Therapeutic Chemical Structures (Drug): Explore strategies for optimizing the chemical structures of therapeutic agents, enhancing their efficacy and safety profiles.
- Preclinical Safety and Pharmacokinetics (Drug): Understand the importance of preclinical safety assessments and pharmacokinetics in ensuring the viability and safety of your products.
- Prototype Development and Refinement (MedTech): Connect with engineers and other prototyping professionals to develop a minimum viable product (MVP), improve on your current technology/prototype, or design for manufacturing.
- Regulatory Science and Agency Expectations: Navigate the regulatory landscape by staying informed about regulatory science and understanding the expectations of regulatory agencies.
- Clinical Study Design and Conduct: Learn the principles of designing and conducting successful clinical studies, optimizing your path to regulatory approval.
- Commercialization/Start-up Company Funding and Incorporation: Explore the strategies and avenues for commercializing your discoveries, including funding options and incorporating a start-up company.
- Engineering Analysis (MedTech): Develop quantitative models to support your innovation and/or define the parameters of operation before investing in expensive pre-clinical testing.
Did You Know?
Indiana CTSI Institutions have offices dedicated to commercialization. The Commercialization PDTs have representatives from these offices at Indiana University, Purdue University, and the University of Notre Dame.
Frequently Asked Questions
Any independent investigator in the state of Indiana is eligible to apply and receive advice. This includes full-time faculty (i.e., tenure-track, research, and clinical faculty) as well as entrepreneurs in Indiana working on health-based products. Graduate students, research scientists, and postdocs are eligible for advice with the support of a faculty mentor.
Full-time faculty (i.e., tenure-track, research, and clinical faculty) at any campus of Indiana University, the University of Notre Dame, or Purdue University who have submitted all relevant invention disclosures to their university’s commercialization office are eligible for funding.
Projects should focus on developing a product that has the potential to improve human health (e.g., therapeutic, diagnostic, medical device). Advice and funding from this group will focus on steps necessary to bring this product to market (commercialization) rather than basic science research.
The program does not restrict the stage of product development; we provide mentorship for projects from the early stages to the advanced stages, such as those at the investigational new drug (IND) and investigational device exemption (IDE) stage.
There are no requirements for cost-sharing or matching funds.
The process begins by filling out a brief application form. A member of the commercialization PDT will follow-up with you to schedule an initial meeting to learn more about your project. If the project is deemed to be a good fit, we will ask you to submit a more detailed application and schedule your project for presentation at a PDT meeting.
There are no restrictions on how often the investigator can receive mentorship from the team.
If awarded funding, the program requires periodic progress reports on progress towards milestones, as well as any commercialization outcomes.
The program provides advice for Indiana startups that are not already affiliated with the Indiana CTSI partnering institutions on a space-available basis.
The Indiana CTSI does not retain any rights to IP developed through funded projects.
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