Biomedical Innovation 101
FFMI biomed 101 course

Fast Forward Medical Innovation

We partnered with the U-M Department of Internal Medicine to present this 6-part webinar series on the basics of biomedical innovation.

In a fully virtual format, the six-part seminar series, designed to introduce the basic concepts of life science research commercialization and connect clinicians and research investigators with supportive resources, featured special guest lectures from commercialization experts and case study examples from U-M faculty colleagues actively navigating the commercialization pathway for novel therapeutics, diagnostics, digital health technologies, and medical devices. 

At the conclusion of the series, participants are able to:

  • Describe the importance of commercializing research discoveries with the potential to positively impact human health.
  • Outline and describe unique commercialization pathways based on product classification (e.g., therapeutics, diagnostics, digital health technologies, and medical devices)
  • Identify additional educational and product development resources available to faculty clinicians and life science research investigators at UM and within the Department of Internal Medicine.      

Fast Forward Medical Innovation offers a comprehensive collection of educational programs and training tailored for busy faculty, students, clinicians, and researchers across the University of Michigan, and across the state, region, and nation.

Programs & Courses
Seminars
Introduction to Research Commercialization
Drug Discovery & Therapeutic Development
Diagnostic Technologies
Digital Health Technologies: Software & Mobile Apps
Biomedical Device Development
Next Steps & Commercialization Resources
Introduction to Research Commercialization

Learn the basics of life science research commercialization. By the end of the seminar, you’ll be able to:

  • Explain the importance of commercializing research
  • Name and describe key features of common pathways based on product vertical
  • Locate relevant resources through FFMI, Michigan Medicine, and the broader UM community.

Instructors:

  • Brad Martin, PhD, Director of Fast Forward Medical Innovation
  • Mike Ranella, MBA, Senior Director of Business Development at Fast Forward Medical Innovation
  • Jon Servoss, EdD, Director of Commercialization Education at Fast Forward Medical Innovation
Drug Discovery & Therapeutic Development

The second seminar in the series will provide a high-level overview of the drug discovery process. By the end of the seminar, you’ll be able to:

  • Name and describe the critical stages and individual development steps within the academic drug discovery process
  • Identify potential barriers and challenges one could face during drug discovery
  • Articulate the importance of focusing on chemistry during the drug discovery process.
  • Locate relevant drug discovery resources

Instructors:

  • Brad Martin, PhD, Director of Fast Forward Medical Innovation
  • Peter Toogood, PhD, Research Associate Professor and Director of Michigan Drug Discovery (MDD)

Case Study Presenter(s):

  • James Shayman, MD, Professor of Pharmacology & Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan.
Diagnostic Technologies

The third seminar in the series will dive into the commercialization of diagnostic technologies, especially in the realm of biomarkers. By the end of the seminar, you’ll be able to:

  • Analyze unique considerations for biomarker development and strategies for commercialization. Identify potential barriers and challenges one could face during drug discovery
  • Locate funding, development, and mentorship resources.

Instructors:

  • Brad Martin, PhD, Director of Fast Forward Medical Innovation
  • Jim Arthurs, Mentor-in-Residence at Innovation Partnerships

Case Study Presenter:

  • Neehar Parikh, MD, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and Medical Director, Hepatology Living Donor Transplant, University of Michigan Medical School
Digital Health Technologies: Software & Mobile Apps

The fourth seminar in the series will outline the path to commercialization for digital health technology developers. By the end of the seminar, you’ll be able to:

  • Identify commercialization strategies of digital health technologies.
  • Analyze the development pathway of digital health technologies through a case study
  • Locate funding, development, and mentorship resources

Instructors:

  • Brad Martin, PhD, Director of Fast Forward Medical Innovation
  • Drew Bennett, Director of Software and Content Licensing, Innovation Partnerships

Case Study Presenter(s):

  • Michael Lanham, MD, Associate Chief Medical Information Officer at Michigan Medicine
Biomedical Device Development

Our fifth seminar will cover the process of biomedical device development and commercialization strategies for medical device technologies. By the end of the seminar, you’ll be able to:

  • Identify commercialization strategies of medical device technologies.
  • Understand the role of engineers in successfully commercializing your biomedical device
  • Locate funding, development, and mentorship resources.

Instructors:

  • Brad Martin, PhD, Director of Fast Forward Medical Innovation
  • Adrienne Harris, Product Development Manager, in2being

Case Study Presenter:

  • Eric Shah, MBA, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Dartmouth University
Next Steps & Commercialization Resources

Our sixth and final seminar will conclude the program with information on basic commercialization steps and an overview of commercialization resources at FFMI, Michigan Medicine, and the University of Michigan broadly.

Instructors:

  • Brad Martin, PhD, Director of Fast Forward Medical Innovation
  • Jon Servoss, EdD, Director of Commercialization Education at Fast Forward Medical Innovation
  • Meghan Cuddihy, PhD, Commercialization Program Director, MTRAC Life Sciences at Innovation Partnerships
  • John Seamans, MSE, Michigan Biomedical Venture Fund Manager at FFMI
Questions?
Contact Us
North Campus Research Complex (NCRC)
Building 520, 3rd Floor
2800 Plymouth Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2800
Phone: 734-615-5060
About Us
Fast Forward Medical Innovation is a unit of the Medical School Office of Research, where our mission is to foster an environment of innovation and efficiency that serves the Michigan Medicine research community and supports biomedical science from insight to impact.