Focus

Commercializing Biomedical Research

The present system for commercializing biomedical research remains woefully inefficient and underpowered. This focus issue of Nature Biotechnology highlights new approaches to facilitate clinical translation of academic discovery.

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Editorial

Focus on Commercializing Biomedical Research

Expanding the innovation pool p897

doi:10.1038/nbt.2396

The biotech investment community needs to look beyond the existing pools of funding and talent to galvanize biomedical innovation.


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Building a business

Focus on Commercializing Biomedical Research

The changing face of corporate venturing in biotechnology pp911 - 915

Georg von Krogh, Boris Battistini, Fotini Pachidou & Pius Baschera

doi:10.1038/nbt.2383

Corporate venture funds are playing an increasingly important role in supporting life science commercialization.


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Correspondence

Focus on Commercializing Biomedical Research

The Green Climate Fund as a patent pool for innovations pp916 - 917

Menno van der Veen

doi:10.1038/nbt.2378


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Commentary

Focus on Commercializing Biomedical Research

Nonprofit foundations for open-source biomedical technology development pp928 - 932

John V Frangioni

doi:10.1038/nbt.2392

For academic discoveries eschewed by traditional venture capital business models, there is now an alternative path.


Focus on Commercializing Biomedical Research

Why universities should step up in venture investing pp933 - 936

Amanda Christini

doi:10.1038/nbt.2390

University funds have a unique opportunity to bridge the gap to commercialization.


Focus on Commercializing Biomedical Research

Patterns of technological innovation in biotech pp937 - 943

Laura M McNamee & Fred D Ledley

doi:10.1038/nbt.2389

Applying theories of innovation to biotech; an analysis of the evolution of three classes of therapeutic biotechnologies.


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Feature

Focus on Commercializing Biomedical Research

Partnering with the professor pp944 - 952

Beth Schachter

doi:10.1038/nbt.2385

There was a time when academia viewed industry simply as a cash cow; today, it's all about sharing common goals and mutual respect for cultural differences.


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Patents

Focus on Commercializing Biomedical Research

Accountability in patenting of federally funded research pp953 - 956

Arti K Rai & Bhaven N Sampat

doi:10.1038/nbt.2382

New data indicating underreporting of federal funding in academic biomedical patents highlight the pressing need for greater transparency under the Bayh-Dole Act.


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Perspective

Focus on Commercializing Biomedical Research

Commercializing biomedical research through securitization techniques pp964 - 976

Jose-Maria Fernandez, Roger M Stein & Andrew W Lo

doi:10.1038/nbt.2374

The authors propose that the increasing risk of biopharma investing can be reduced through megafunds that support many biomedical programs and attract investment from large institutions such as pension funds.