By: Candice Tang, UHN Trainee and ORT Times Science Writer
The intersection between science, business, and technology creates a perfect landscape for starting a new business focused on healthcare. There are endless opportunities for new products and services to improve our understanding of human disease, drug testing, data analysis, and patient care. At UHN, many scientists-turned-entrepreneurs develop tools that have the potential to help people now.
It takes a lot of work, skill and luck to succeed as an entrepreneur. Dr. Paul Santerre is a UHN researcher and co-director of Health to Innovation (H2i), a start-up hub based out of the University of Toronto. To him, a successful entrepreneur is good at solving problems, refining and reassembling ideas, collaborating with others, and asking questions. Fortunately, many UHN trainees exercise these skills every day in their research. Moreover, they develop key skills like critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership that make them attractive businesspeople.
Michael Valic is a former UHN trainee who studied nanoparticles for imaging and therapy under the supervision of Dr. Gang Zheng and Dr. Marcus Q. Bernardini. Since graduating, he has been working with Porphysome Foundry, a start-up company launched by Dr. Zheng in 2016. The company works closely with researchers and clinicians from the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre to bring porphyrin and lipid-based nanoparticles into clinical use.
“The collaborative atmosphere between clinicians and researchers is essential for ensuring that research is directed towards addressing unmet clinical needs,” says Michael. “The clinical development of the porphysome is an excellent example of how the participation of clinicians throughout the development process help us to create products with real clinical utility.”
Michael Lagowski, a graduate student under the supervision of Dr. Santerre, is pleased to be in an environment that encourages entrepreneurship and professional development. He is part of a small team that is developing a special surgical adhesive for head, neck, face, and jaw injuries.
“With so many resources available to students today, entrepreneurship education and commercialization feasibility can be determined with little to no cost,” he says. “If you think you have a product that can make a real impact, then engaging with any of the initiatives at UHN or the University of Toronto is definitely recommended.”
Starting a new business is no easy feat, but the resources and training available at UHN and its affiliates can make the task less daunting. Click on the links below to learn more about what these resources can do for you.
University of Toronto: Entrepreneurship Hatchery, UTest, the Hub, Impact Centre, ICube