Building on the momentum of Founders Week, the IHSI team had the privilege of meeting with Gerald Wilson, Director of Entrepreneurship, and Cynthia Faullin, Associate Director of Operations at the Research Park, during our fall staff retreat. We engaged in discussion about how we can better connect and engage to facilitate more translational activity in health at Illinois, followed by a tour of EnterpriseWorks.
Eleuthra Photonics, a startup specializing in development and production of rapid image-based diagnostic tools for analyzing tissue and cell samples and industry partner on the MarginDx project, is among the 50+ startup companies located in EnterpriseWorks. In a recent interview about MarginDx, I explained that our project team had been operating in a mode that is more like a startup company than an academic research laboratory, which requires a very different mindset and milestone focus in order to be successful. While we have certainly had a fair share of challenges, I believe we’re building a pathway for more collaborations in health innovation across the Illinois campus and with our partners. The change in mindset and growth in our network and areas of expertise is what will drive our research ideas and innovations into impactful health solutions.
IHSI’s first 10 years established a strong foundation for health sciences with many strategic partnerships, education and training programs, and support services. In the next 10 years, we will build on this foundation, our Mayo Clinic & Illinois Alliance, and our campuswide position in health to move toward more translation and impact. We’re growing a strong network of internal and external affiliates and program alumni; leading and participating in large-scale projects that bring together expertise from various colleges, departments, and research units; establishing trusting, reciprocal community relationships; and exploring industry and entrepreneurial collaborations that leverage our interdisciplinary strengths.
Gerald Wilson was quoted as saying: “We have big ambitions – to become the leading university entrepreneurial ecosystem in the nation.” This is an exciting moment and opportunity for our collaborative community to come together to address our society’s health challenges.