Dede Willis, president, CEO and cofounder of Orbit Genomics Inc and partner with Ventac Partners, will present the Harry William Lee Porth Distinguished Lecture at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21, in the Innovation Lab Forum. Her talk is titled “From Lab to Market: Commercializing University Life Science Innovations.” There will be a reception following. All are welcome.

Abstract: In the rapidly evolving field of life sciences, translating groundbreaking academic research into viable market solutions presents  both exciting opportunities and unique challenges. The talk is based on both personal experiences as an entrepreneur and investor as well as learnings from other company’s successes and failures. We will explore the journey of llife science innovations from the lab to commercial success, addressing critical questions such as the origins of new life science products and the strategies for assessing their commercial potential.

We will delve into the essential steps for building a successful business around life science innovations, emphasizing the importance of fostering a culture of creativity and entrepreneurship within academic institutions. We will also discuss how to direct research toward commercial opportunities, ensuring that innovations are aligned with market needs and demands. Attendees will also gain insights into the nuances of transitioning from academia to the start-up world, including best practices for navigating this shift. Finally, we will highlight common pitfalls that entrepreneurs and universities may encounter along the way and offer actionable strategies to avoid them.

Bio: Dede Willis is a partner at global life science venture creator, Ventac Partners. She is also President & CEO and a cofounder of Orbit Genomics, Inc., a genomics company cofounded by Ventac Partners and Missouri S&T alumnus, Dr. Harold “Skip” Garner.

Dede has over 25 years of executive leadership experience in Life Science startups in the US, Europe and Asia. In addition to Orbit Genomics, she has cofounded and/or led multiple university spinouts. She started her career with the former Hoechst Group (now Sanofi, Celanese and DuPont) where she worked in several corporate start-ups in the U.S. and Germany, gaining operational experience in every functional role and across multiple industries. In her first international role, she was responsible for establishing an innovation process for  Hoechst’s global corporate research (Germany, US and Asia) to ensure research projects had commercial potential. She was also responsible or acquiring startup and technologies from universities. She has been responsible for the development and launch of many life science products including therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices & veterinary products.

Dede has a B.Sc. Degree in Chemical Engineering from Clemson University and an MBA from the University of Houston, but her real education comes from a career in start-ups. She lives in Boulder, Colorado where in her spare time she enjoys skiing, cycling ad hiking in the Rockies and other beautiful places around the world.