UI Collab, in partnership with Gardner Innovation Search Partners and Higher Talent, works with leading organizations across academia, industry, and government offering executive search services and recruitment for roles that support research, innovation, and university–industry collaboration.
This podcast episode, provided in partnership with Gardner Innovation Search Partners, features a conversation with Dr. Wilbur Lam, a professor and innovation leader at Emory University. Dr. Lam’s roles as the W. Paul Bowers Research Chair in Pediatrics and Vice Provost for Entrepreneurship offer him a unique perspective on how academic institutions can transform research into real-world solutions.
In this episode, Dr. Lam speaks with host Quentin Thomas about Emory’s groundbreaking efforts to merge academic inquiry with entrepreneurial ventures, emphasizing the need to support students and faculty in transforming ideas into market-ready products.
Key Highlights from the Dr. Lam Episode:
- Innovation in Academia: Dr. Lam explains how Emory is fostering a culture of innovation through initiatives like the Lab-to-Launch incubator and Hatchery. These programs are designed to help students and faculty turn groundbreaking ideas into viable startups, especially in the fields of biomedical engineering and healthcare technology.
Entrepreneurial Spirit at Emory: Dr. Lam discusses his dual roles in the university’s medical and broader academic settings, supporting students and faculty across all departments, from public health to theology. He emphasizes how cross-disciplinary collaboration is key to generating innovative solutions.
De-risking Innovations: One of the most fascinating parts of the conversation is Dr. Lam’s insight into de-risking early-stage technologies to make them attractive to investors. Emory is building internal venture funds to support both pharmaceutical and biomedical device innovation.
The Importance of Commercialization: Dr. Lam argues that for academic research to make a tangible impact, universities must embrace commercialization. He sees this as the final stage of translating inventions into products that solve real-world problems.
Why Listen?
This episode is for anyone interested in the intersection of academia, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Dr. Lam’s experience in both research and entrepreneurial leadership provides valuable insights into how universities can act as catalysts for technological and medical breakthroughs.
UI Collab is a consulting and talent solutions firm focused on advancing university–industry collaboration. We offer executive search services to help organizations across academia, industry, and government build high-performing teams that drive research, partnerships, and commercialization forward.
Keep an eye on our Open Jobs; you never know when something will come along that fits your qualifications and expertise! Search our open job listings.
Interested in our executive recruiting solutions? Our expert consultants are skilled at working with teams to define role scope, align stakeholder expectations, and manage a structured search process designed to identify candidates positioned to strengthen research translation and ecosystem performance. Let’s work together!
For more, explore our UI Pulse archives and follow us on social media.