Beyond the Lab: Turning Research into Partnerships, Products, and Impact

The University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University are partnering to bring two engaging panel discussions exploring how groundbreaking university research becomes real-world impact. Hear from faculty innovators, investors, technology transfer leaders, and corporate partners as they discuss the challenges, opportunities, and partnerships that drive successful commercialization. ​Feel free to stop by for just one, or attend both! ​3:00 - 3:45PM - Candid Roundtable on De-Risking, Unmet Needs, and Commercialization Challenges ​This roundtable for faculty innovators and commercialization leaders will be a candid discussion on the challenges of moving research toward real-world adoption. ​The conversation will focus on what “de-risking” actually means in practice: technical validation, market validation, customer discovery, regulatory pathways, translational funding, or the right industry partnerships. ​Moderated by Kelly Collier, Director of Ecosystem Development at LifeX ​Panelists include: ​Dr. Carl Snyderman, Professor of otolaryngology and neurological surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and otolaryngology director of the UPMC Center for Cranial Base Surgery ​Jordyn Ting, Postdoctoral associate in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Pittsburgh ​More to come! ​Core questions: ​What does de-risking mean from a faculty, investor, and corporate partner perspective? ​Where are the biggest unmet needs that industry wants universities to solve? ​What kinds of evidence, validation, or milestones make a technology more fundable? ​How can faculty and industry engage earlier to shape translational research? ​3:45 - 4:30PM - The World of IP - Blocking and Tackling Commercialization Panel ​This panel will bring together technology transfer leaders from CMU and Pitt, alongside corporate and industry partners who actively evaluate and commercialize university IP. ​A central theme will be the “v