Category: Blog

Blog

From Disclosure to Market: How the BioVentures Process Works 

Curious how an idea becomes a protected invention at UAMS?  At BioVentures, we guide innovators through every step, from disclosure to patent decisions and market strategy. Here’s how the process works, what to expect, and how we support you along the way. 1) Submit Your Invention Disclosure  The first step is fully and adequately disclosing your invention to BioVentures by submitting an invention disclosure. Even if you’ve already reached out to schedule a meeting, we require a disclosure to initiate the process. It allows us to review the technology in advance, and gather essential information on compliance, funding, and inventorship.  We’ve recently adopted a new AI-powered disclosure platform to simplify the process. You can upload relevant documents—papers, figures, posters, presentations—and the system will generate a draft disclosure for you to review and edit before submission:  👉 Submit your disclosure  The form captures a complete overview of your invention, its potential applications, and any existing data or prototypes. Once submitted, BioVentures typically reviews the disclosure within 1–2 weeks before scheduling a meeting with you.  Typical timing: BioVentures review in 1–2 weeks.  2) Meeting with the Technology Manager  We meet with the inventor to clarify the technology, confirm federal compliance needs, capture inventor and funding information, and discuss long‑term goals and commercialization paths.  Typical timing: Scheduled within 1–2 weeks after disclosure review.  3) P&CC Decision (Patent & Copyright Committee)  The inventor presents at the P&CC. This committee reviews the presented technology and makes a determination on how the technology should be protected. Outcomes can include:  Typical timing: P&CC is usually scheduled 1–2 months after acceptance of the disclosure.  4) Protection Strategy Based on P&CC Outcome  The legal protection route follows the P&CC decision. If a provisional patent filing is recommended, we move quickly to secure a priority date and a 12‑month window to strengthen data and assess market potential. This is because in the United States is a first to file country which means that the right to a patent generally belongs to whichever inventor files an application with the USPTO first, not to whoever first conceives the idea. As such, protecting your invention in a timely manner is important to us.   Typical timing: Provisional filing is typically completed within a few weeks of the P&CC meeting.  5) Marketing and Commercial Pathways  If the inventor agrees, we begin targeted outreach. Options include:  Why Early Disclosure Matters  Submitting your invention disclosure early is essential. It helps preserve your patent rights before any public disclosure or publication, ensuring your ability to pursue protection. Early disclosure also allows BioVentures to align your IP strategy with funding sources and compliance requirements, and accelerates our ability to evaluate the market potential and identify relevant partners.  This overview is for general information and does not constitute legal advice. Specific strategies and timelines may vary by technology.  Have an invention to disclose? Submit your disclosure now!

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BioVentures Supports UAMS M1 Students in PCAR Summer Program

BioVentures supported University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) first-year medical students this summer through the Partnership in Cancer Research (PCAR) program. Over eight weeks, participants worked in multidisciplinary teams to address real-world challenges in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or survivorship. The program culminated in entrepreneurial pitch presentations to a panel of judges. Three BioVentures team members served as mentors, advising students on refining problem statements, assessing market opportunities, and developing business models. Another team member participated as a judge, providing feedback from a commercialization perspective. The collaboration aimed to foster entrepreneurial thinking, highlight the role of innovation in cancer care, and encourage future clinician-innovators at UAMS. This initiative reflects BioVentures’ ongoing commitment to advancing healthcare entrepreneurship and translating research into real-world impact.

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Building Translational Skills: Inside the 2025 BioVentures Internship 

BioVentures’ 2025 interns modernized core data systems and explored how UAMS innovations reach the market, bridging science and business.  BioVentures is wrapping up its 2025 Internship Program on August 1, with two standout students who have brought fresh energy and dedication to the office: Carter Horton and Nyera Ali.   Carter, a sophomore in Biomedical Engineering and National Merit Scholar at the University of Arkansas, described his experience by saying: “This internship has shown me how science and business connect to improve lives. It’s exciting to see it firsthand.”  Nyera, a rising senior at Pulaski Academy, is a Model United Nations standout and one of only seven students from Arkansas selected to compete at the prestigious Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair for her genome-editing research. Participating through the Summer Research Institute (SRI), she has been working with Dr. Mitch McGill on research involving acetaminophen-induced liver injury.   Throughout the summer, both interns have played a role in transferring and organizing key data into a new system, a project that will serve as the foundation for future operations at BioVentures. In doing so, they’ve gained direct exposure to the process of technology transfer and learned how discoveries at UAMS move from the lab into the real world through commercialization.  We’re grateful to have had them with us this summer and look forward to seeing where their paths lead next.  Interested in interning with BioVentures in 2026? Contact tforcum@uams.edu. 

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Bringing Discoveries to Life: Technology Transfer at UAMS 

Every breakthrough at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) starts the same way: a question, an experiment, a spark of insight. Yet fewer than 10% of academic discoveries are ever licensed, and even fewer become commercial products, because the gap between lab work and real-world adoption is wider than it looks.  That’s where technology transfer, and BioVentures, steps in.  What Exactly Is Technology Transfer?  In simple terms, technology transfer (or “tech transfer”) is the structured hand-off of intellectual property (IP), data and know-how from a research institution to an outside partner that can turn it into a product, service or startup. At UAMS, tech transfer means:  Why It Accelerates the Path to Market  Great research doesn’t always lead to real-world impact, at least not on its own. In fact, many promising discoveries stall in the gap between publication and commercialization. Without structured support, this “valley of death” can prevent life-changing technologies from ever reaching patients, products, or public benefit.  That’s where technology transfer makes the difference. By removing common roadblocks, it turns isolated breakthroughs into scalable innovations.  Here are three key barriers in traditional academic research, and how technology transfer helps overcome them:  1. No Clear Ownership = No Investment  Most companies won’t touch an invention unless it’s clearly protected. If the intellectual property (IP) isn’t patented or officially disclosed, it becomes risky. No one wants to invest in something they can’t legally control or defend.  Tech transfer solution: BioVentures helps UAMS researchers secure IP rights through provisional or utility patents. This provides legal certainty for potential partners and investors, paving the way for serious interest and funding.  2. Funding Gaps After Publication  Once a discovery is published, grant funding often slows down and there’s rarely institutional support to turn research into a product. That leaves many innovations in limbo.  Tech transfer solution: Through licensing agreements, BioVentures creates new revenue streams. Royalties and milestone payments help fund continued development, validation, and even new lines of research.  3. Limited Access to Commercial Partners  Researchers often lack direct access to industry players who could bring their technologies to market. Cold outreach rarely works, and there’s no playbook for navigating the startup or med-tech space alone.  Tech transfer solution: BioVentures maintains an active network of industry contacts, including venture firms, pharma companies, and medical device manufacturers. We make the introductions—and manage the conversations—so your science gets in front of the right people.  What’s in It for UAMS Inventors?  Your First Step: The Invention Disclosure  Submitting a disclosure takes ≈10 minutes and should be done before you publish or present.  Ready to Make an Impact?  Stay on top of funding calls, licensing success stories and practical IP tips. Subscribe to the BioVentures Newsletter and turn your research into real-world change.  Subscribe Now 

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BioVentures unveils a smarter, faster way to manage invention disclosures at UAMS  

BioVentures LLC has adopted Tradespace, an AI-driven platform built specifically for technology-transfer offices, to streamline invention disclosures and commercialization efforts across UAMS. Beginning this month, all UAMS inventors will submit new inventions through BioVentures’ new portal, powered by Tradespace, via UAMS Single Sign-On at app.tradespace.io.  Tradespace replaces the old portal with a transparent, user-friendly experience that matches the pace of translational science:  “Adopting this new platform reflects our mission to stay at the forefront of academic innovation,” said Eric Peterson, Ph.D., President of BioVentures. “It’s about giving researchers the tools they need to partner with BioVentures and bring their cutting edge ideas to market more effectively.”  Submit your invention in minutes  Most users complete the new disclosure form in under 10 minutes. Log in and get started today: app.tradespace.io.  For questions or assistance, contact the BioVentures team at bioventures@uams.edu.  

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Innovation Week 2025 Connects Science, Industry, and Opportunity

BioVentures hosted its first annual Innovation Week from May 12–15, 2025, bringing together researchers, startups, industry partners, and investors to explore the future of biomedical innovation at UAMS. The event featured a dynamic lineup of panels, presentations, and networking opportunities across campus, designed to strengthen the bridge between academic research and real-world impact. Over 50 attendees registered across the week’s activities, which included: Speakers included representatives from BioArkansas, the Arkansas Research Alliance, Tradespace,  and BioVentures. Panelists included faculty and staff from across the UAMS ecosystem, and representatives from pharmaceutical and biomedical industry partners such as Johnson and Johnson. The week underscored the critical role of translational science, commercialization of intellectual property, and industry-academia collaborations, and how institutions like UAMS can lead in transforming research discoveries into commercial and clinical solutions. We’re grateful to everyone who participated, and we’re already looking ahead to Innovation Week 2026. Did you attend Innovation Week? Leave us a comment on LinkedIn. Help us improve next year’s Innovation Week by sharing your thoughts through this short form. Meet & Greet Inventors Lunch & Award Ceremony Industry-Research Forum Stay in the Loop Subscribe now to get updates on BioVentures events. Subscribe * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name

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Innovation Week Opens in 7 Days — Are You Registered?

In one week, BioVentures will welcome innovators from across UAMS and beyond for Innovation Week 2025. Four days of ideas, insight and industry connection on the UAMS Main Campus in Little Rock. Whether you’re advancing breakthrough research, launching a startup or simply curious about commercialization, this is the place to turn discovery into opportunity. Date Time Location Highlight Mon 12 8 – 10 a.m. Biomed I Atrium Meet & Greet: coffee, donuts and conversation with the BioVentures team Tue 13 11:30 a.m. I. Dodd Wilson 115 A/B Inventors Lunch & Award Ceremony — celebrating UAMS discoveries Wed 14 Noon Cancer Institute, Strauss‑McCaskill Learning Center “Raising Capital for Your Startup Endeavors” with Michael Geranen Thu 15 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. I. Dodd Wilson Industry‑Research Forum — keynote by Justin Rerko, expert panels, lunch & networking happy hour Full agenda details, speaker bios and session descriptions are available on the registration page. Why Attend? Seats are limited. See you next week at Innovation Week 2025 — Where Discovery Meets Opportunity.

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Explore the Inventor’s Handbook: Your Guide to Tech Transfer

Discover essential insights into the tech transfer process with the BioVentures Inventor’s Handbook. This resource provides UAMS researchers with valuable information on protecting intellectual property, navigating the patenting process, and understanding the benefits of commercialization. Whether you’re a new or experienced inventor, this handbook offers step-by-step guidance to help turn your innovations into impactful products and services.

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