AUTM on the Air Podcast Por AUTM arte de portada

AUTM on the Air

AUTM on the Air

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AUTM on the AIR is the weekly podcast that brings you conversations about the impact of research commercialization and the people who make it happen. Join us for interviews with patent and licensing professionals, innovators, entrepreneurs, and tech transfer leaders on the issues and trends that matter most.

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Episodios
  • Understanding What’s Happening in Washington, D.C. and Why It Matters for Tech Transfer with Mike Waring

    Understanding What’s Happening in Washington, D.C. and Why It Matters for Tech Transfer with Mike Waring
    Feb 25 2026
    Policy conversations can feel distant until they land squarely on the desks of technology transfer professionals. Coming to you from the AUTM Annual Meeting in Seattle, we’re taking a closer look at what’s unfolding in Washington, D.C., and why it matters for research commercialization, patents, startups, and university innovation.My guest is someone many of you already know, Mike Waring. Mike has spent more than four decades immersed in Washington policy, beginning in broadcast journalism, then on Capitol Hill, and later as a lobbyist for a major trade association. For twenty years, he led the University of Michigan’s Washington office, working at the intersection of research, technology transfer, and intellectual property policy. He is a former AUTM Assistant Vice President for Advocacy, past chair of AUTM’s Public Policy Advisory Committee, and now AUTM’s Advocacy and Alliances Coordinator, helping guide engagement with Congress and federal agencies on the issues shaping our community.We explore the current mood toward universities and innovation, the bipartisan appetite for research and competitiveness, and the realities behind proposed policy shifts. We discuss the floated “innovation dividend” concept targeting university royalty income, developments at the USPTO, including Section 101 and PTAB practices, the status of PARA and PREVAIL legislation, and the ripple effects of SBIR/STTR authorization delays on university startups. Mike also shares practical guidance for tech transfer offices on working effectively with campus government relations teams, leveraging regional impact stories, and keeping policymakers connected to the real-world outcomes of university innovation.In This Episode:[1:38] Mike Waring describes the Washington mood, noting that tech transfer is often folded into broader debates about universities rather than treated as a standalone issue.[2:06] Even amid generalized skepticism toward higher education, members of Congress tend to maintain strong loyalty to institutions in their own states.[2:47] “All politics is local” becomes the strategic anchor, emphasizing regional and district-level framing when communicating innovation impact.[3:21] Innovation remains a bipartisan priority, with policymakers broadly aligned around jobs, new technologies, and competitiveness.[3:52] Congress moves toward near-full funding for NSF and NIH despite earlier proposals for deep cuts, reinforcing support for the research pipeline.[4:44] Sustained research investment is framed as essential for U.S. competitiveness with China and other global innovators.[5:25] The floated “innovation dividend” proposal raises concern, particularly the idea of capturing roughly half of university royalty income.[6:03] Pushback from the Bayh-Dole Coalition and other stakeholders highlights misunderstandings about how the government already benefits from research.[6:37] The absence of formal policy language is viewed as a cautiously hopeful sign that the royalty proposal may lose momentum.[7:35] Smaller tech transfer offices are identified as especially vulnerable to royalty revenue disruptions.[8:34] Data, transparency, and institution-specific context are positioned as critical tools in campus leadership discussions.[9:07] A constructive meeting with USPTO leadership signals renewed engagement with the higher-education community.[10:20] Section 101 and PTAB practices emerge as focal points for patent system improvements.[10:33] USPTO outreach shifts from regional buildings to more direct university-based engagement across the country.[12:39] PARA and PREVAIL legislation are reintroduced, targeting subject matter eligibility and PTAB reform.[13:08] Patent eligibility challenges are linked to difficulties in protecting diagnostics and therapeutics.[14:34] Committee dynamics and limited legislative runway underscore the difficulty of advancing complex patent reforms.[15:37] Even moving bills through the Senate is framed as laying groundwork for future Congresses.[16:44] SBIR/STTR authorization lapses disrupt new awards, creating uncertainty for startups and early-stage technologies.[17:09] Senate disagreements focus on limits for repeat grant recipients and geographic equity concerns.[18:04] Prolonged delays raise fears that agencies could redirect funds away from SBIR programs.[18:53] Tech transfer offices are encouraged to share real startup impact stories with senators to increase urgency.[19:55] Final appropriations outcomes exceed expectations, easing earlier fears of drastic science funding cuts.[20:26] NSF’s relatively small cut is described as a meaningful victory in a constrained budget environment.[21:10] The rejection of a 15% indirect cost cap is welcomed as a significant win for research institutions.[22:08] Tech transfer professionals are reminded they are not lobbyists but key partners to campus government relations teams.[22:56] Providing data, success stories, and regional ...
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    32 m
  • Be Brilliant Urgently, Advancing Parkinson’s Research Through Partnerships with Michelle Durborow

    Be Brilliant Urgently, Advancing Parkinson’s Research Through Partnerships with Michelle Durborow
    Feb 18 2026
    Breakthrough therapies do not begin with commercialization, yet without it, many breakthroughs never reach patients. That tension sits at the center of this conversation with Michelle Durborow, Vice President of Research Operations at the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, where she oversees grant administration and program operations for Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP).Michelle explains how a patient-driven mission influences the foundation’s research funding strategy, particularly when it comes to early, high-risk science. From the outset, her team evaluates not only scientific merit, but also what each project makes possible, the decisions it informs, the risks it reduces, and how it contributes to the long-term therapeutic pipeline.The episode also takes a look at intellectual property. Michelle shares why MJFF views IP not as a barrier, but as a practical mechanism that enables investment, partnership, and ultimately patient access. By removing itself from IP ownership, the foundation reduces friction while still supporting responsible protection, alignment of incentives, and meaningful data-sharing practices.Michelle brings an operational perspective that resonates strongly with the tech transfer community. She speaks about bottlenecks, collaboration dynamics, and the importance of engaging earlier, before agreements become urgent and negotiations become strained. This strategic conversation offers lessons that extend well beyond Parkinson’s research.In This Episode:[01:50] Michelle outlines the Michael J. Fox Foundation’s mission to eliminate Parkinson’s disease while improving treatments for patients today.[02:16] Technology transfer is the pathway that moves discoveries from ideas into scalable therapies and diagnostics.[03:05] We discuss how patient impact directly connects to commercialization and translational strategy.[04:10] Why MJFF evaluates translation potential at the very start of proposal review.[04:55] Early-stage projects are assessed based on what decisions they inform and which risks they retire.[06:12] Intellectual property is positioned not as a barrier, but as a bridge enabling investment and development.[07:05] How patents provide confidence for partners navigating long, expensive R&D pathways.[08:02] MJFF’s choice not to claim IP ownership is highlighted as a friction-reducing strategy.[09:10] Michelle emphasizes that misaligned incentives not patents are what typically stall progress.[11:16] Bottlenecks such as prolonged MTAs and data-use negotiations are identified as major slowdowns.[12:11] She notes that unclear access terms and fragmented ownership frequently delay research momentum.[12:33] The importance of bringing experts into agreement structuring is underscored.[13:07] Michelle describes initiatives like the LURC2 Investigative Therapeutics Exchange and the LITE consortium.[14:02] Early engagement with technology transfer offices is presented as essential for smoother partnerships.[16:19] Collaboration lessons emerge: align goals early and define roles clearly across stakeholders.[17:10] She advocates running science and deal mechanics in parallel rather than sequentially.[18:02] Straightforward, repeatable agreement frameworks are credited with reducing negotiation friction.[20:15] Trust is described as something built through transparency about incentives and risks.[22:05] Michelle shares Michael J. Fox’s guiding principle: “purity of motives.”[25:51] She reflects on her career shift from lab science to research operations and systems design.[27:05] Michelle highlights MJFF resources, including guides, webinars, and the Buddy Network.[28:37] Looking ahead, she expresses optimism about precision medicine and biomarker-driven care.[29:55] Her closing message is to move faster together and keep patients at the center.Resources: AUTMThe Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s ResearchMichelle Durborow - LinkedInAligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP)Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI)Targets to Therapies ProgramParkinson's Buddy NetworkParkinson’s IQ + You Events
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    32 m
  • Rebranding for Impact, How URI Is Scaling Research Commercialization with Peter Rumsey and Allison Markova

    Rebranding for Impact, How URI Is Scaling Research Commercialization with Peter Rumsey and Allison Markova
    Feb 11 2026
    Real-world impact doesn’t happen by accident. It takes intention, structure, and a willingness to rethink how research moves beyond the university. That’s the inflection point the University of Rhode Island Research Foundation has reached as it rebrands to URI Innovations. This shift signals more than a name change. It reflects a broader evolution into a campus-wide hub for technology translation, entrepreneurship, and strategic partnership.My guests today are Peter Rumsey and Allison Markova of URI Innovations. Peter serves as AVP of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. A former military officer with more than 30 years of private-sector business development experience, he has been instrumental in launching the Rise Up initiative supported by the U.S. Office of Naval Research. He was recently honored as a Career Achiever by Providence Business News for his work advancing innovation and economic development in Rhode Island and beyond.Peter also serves as a part-time instructor in innovation and entrepreneurship at URI, is Chair Emeritus at Leadership Rhode Island, and currently chairs the Rhode Island State Innovation Hub, or RI Hub. Allison Markova is Director of Technology Transfer and Innovation Partnerships at URI Innovations, bringing deep experience from her previous role as Director of Technology Transfer at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.On today’s show, we explore what’s driving the rebrand, how initiatives like Rise Up are reshaping entrepreneurship training on campus and across state lines, and how URI is building momentum through its inaugural tech showcase. It’s a look at how early engagement, integrated IP strategy, and a strong regional ecosystem can turn research strength into sustained real-world impact.In This Episode:[03:15] The rebrand from URI Research Foundation to URI Innovations is explained, clarifying the shift from a confusing legacy name to a forward-facing identity centered on innovation and entrepreneurship.[04:24] Peter outlines why now was the right moment for change, pointing to URI’s R1 status, research growth, and the need to scale translation capacity.[05:48] A move beyond a patents-first mindset is emphasized, focusing instead on pairing intellectual property with commercialization to create true innovation.[07:09] Allison describes the brand promise of transforming discovery into impact through clearer pathways for faculty, students, and industry partners.[08:31] Early engagement becomes a central theme as URI Innovations reframes itself from a process office to a strategic partner in exploration and execution.[09:47] The three pillars of IP stewardship, venture development, and strategic partnerships are presented as integrated functions rather than silos.[11:06] Strategic partnerships range from sponsored research to startups embedding within new innovation centers and incubators.[12:26] Ocean and blue technology leadership takes center stage, with examples including Regent Craft and collaborations with the Naval Undersea Warfare Center.[16:26] Rise Up is introduced as a tri-state, Navy-supported initiative focused on dual-use technologies and workforce development.[18:47] The Defense Department’s dual-use philosophy is explained as startups must succeed commercially rather than rely solely on defense funding.[21:09] Undergraduate students tackle real defense and industry challenges using Steve Blank’s business model canvas and Bill Aulet’s disciplined entrepreneurship framework.[22:57] The Patents to Products program provides gap funding and mentorship to translate university IP into market-ready ventures.[24:42] Faculty Innovation Fellows integrate entrepreneurship tools directly into diverse curricula, from engineering to the arts.[26:26] The Ideation Studio invites students, faculty, and community members into a 10-week sprint from idea to MVP and live pitch.[28:59] Impact metrics go beyond disclosures and startups, tracking cultural change through increased early engagement.[30:33] Growth in pitch night participation from a handful of teams to double-digit ventures signals a shift in campus culture.[32:48] SWEPT, an AI-driven street-sweeping optimization platform, illustrates how student innovation can scale globally.[34:10] Juice Robotics demonstrates how affordable ocean sensing technologies can disrupt traditionally high-cost field operations.[36:11] The inaugural Tech Showcase positions URI alongside regional leaders and launches Rhode Island Startup Week.[38:31] A public goal to create funded startups each year reflects a bold, action-oriented approach to building momentum.[41:03] Allison shares why she joined URI Innovations, citing institutional commitment and cultural readiness for growth.[42:34] Tech transfer is reframed as an impact platform rather than a patents office, emphasizing storytelling and amplification.[43:50] Commercialization is positioned as complementary to scholarship, expanding researchers’ avenues for ...
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    53 m
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