Translating health research into impact

Stephanie Fertig, director of small business innovation programs at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) - the world's largest public funder of biomedical research - will be the featured speaker at the Research Translation Workshop on Tuesday, Oct. 29, at the University of Delaware's Science, Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) Campus.

"Research translation" refers to the process of converting discoveries and new technologies into practical applications that can benefit society.

Innovators from UD, Delaware State University, and regional small businesses interested in networking, academic collaboration and opportunities for commercialization-driven research and development funding are invited to attend. They also are encouraged to bring posters and/or prototypes that showcase their innovations.

Fertig has more than 20 years of experience in translational research and has led the creation and implementation of multiple programs focused on small businesses and product development at NIH, where she currently oversees the agency's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. These congressionally mandated set-aside programs provide more than $1.3 billion dollars per year to small business concerns.

During her presentation, Fertig will provide attendees with a roadmap for navigating SBIR/STTR opportunities. She has a bachelor's degree in chemistry with a minor in physics from the University of Virginia and an MBA from the University of Maryland.

The workshop will be held from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the north atrium of the Health Sciences Complex at STAR Campus. In addition to Fertig's presentation (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.), the program will include an innovation showcase and networking, case studies and opportunities for one-on-one meetings with representatives from NIH and the Delaware Small Business Development Center. Lunch will be provided.

Register for the workshop at this website.

The event is sponsored by the Institute for Engineering Driven Health, the College of Health Sciences and the Delaware Small Business Development Center.