The New Orleans area boasts a robust academic enterprise, encompassing a substantial body of scientific discovery. To facilitate the process of transitioning this discovery into commercially viable cures and treatments, the research commercialization group aims to facilitate “commercialization” in becoming part of the academic culture by enhancing the translational and commercial potential of local scientific discoveries. The academic research commercialization team is housed at the New Orleans BioInnovation Center and represents a consolidation of the commercial goals related to 3 inter-institutional initiatives funded by the Louisiana Board of Regents and shared by LSU-Health Sciences Center, Tulane Health Sciences Center and Xavier University.

Operational focus lies on supporting and developing commercial outcomes related to academic bioscience discovery in New Orleans, with an emphasis on direct interaction with faculty. Special interest is given to the local areas of strength defined by the grant programs; including the South Louisiana Institute for Infectious Disease Research (SLIIDR), the Louisiana Vaccine Center (LVC), and the Clinical and Translational Research, Education and Commercialization Project (CTRECP).

Through direct interaction with faculty, the commercial potential of ongoing research is continuously assessed and supported. To do this, student interns, recruited from local science, law and business programs help faculty understand the potential commercial viability of their discoveries, and fully explore the commercialization options. While not all potential intellectual property identified will generate a viable stand-alone business opportunities, the initial technical and commercial due diligence allows a more market conscious approach to technology commercialization, thereby facilitating the flow of novel inventions from the research labs into the technology development office, and improving odds of resulting business success.

Exposing interns from business and technical backgrounds to the early-stage technology and business due diligence processes will help to create a ‘class’ of technically savvy young entrepreneurs who can serve the current biosciences business sector and who will have the skills and experience to investigate and evaluate new potential local business opportunities. Eventually this process is aimed to support the creation of new bioscience enterprises with close affiliation with the area universities.

Steven Ceulemans is the Commercialization Coordinator heading this program. Steven holds a Masters degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from LSU Health Sciences Center - New Orleans, as well as a Masters degree in International Business from VLEKHO business school in Brussels. He has experience in R&D, business development and VC backed biotech for organizations including the Joint Research Centre (DG European Commission), Procter & Gamble, Tibotec (Johnson&Johnson) and Software AG. For more information, please contact Steven.