One of the challenges of working at a university with as much innovation going on as UC Davis is that it’s nearly impossible to keep up to speed with what all of our researchers are working on and figure out how our ecosystem can collaborate to help them achieve the clinical or societal impact that they’re aiming for. I could spend every hour of my day meeting one-on-one with faculty, post-docs, students, and staff, and only begin to scratch the surface of the potential incubating at UC Davis and UC Davis Health.

As part of the UC Davis Health Ventures team, I brainstormed with my colleagues in the Innovation and Economic Development Office (IEDO), as well as the Tech Transfer Office and the Cell & Gene Therapy Program, on how we could work together to efficiently map (in a fun way!) many projects in a large research group without making everyone spend hours and hours in meetings. From this initial brainstorming session, the TRIage concept was born: present your innovation on three slides (unmet clinical need, differentiated solution, killer experiment) in three minutes and we’ll “triage” the right resources, programs and mentorship opportunities for you.

We pitched TRIage to our colleagues across the hall here at Aggie Square, Drs. Aijun Wang and Diana Farmer, who accepted our invitation to have their Center for Surgical Bioengineering team over for a fast-paced hour of presentations and discussion. Nine researchers shared twelve innovations that spanned both human and animal health. From Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy to brain cancer, the presentations highlighted just how much incredible work is happening every day at UC Davis.

What stood out most wasn’t just the quality of the science, it was the way this TRIage Innovation Forum encouraged researchers to think about their discoveries through a new lens. By engaging directly with our UC Davis innovation ecosystem, these early-stage innovators had the chance to explore questions around intellectual property, fundraising, and pathways to translate their ideas into real-world applications all in one room. That kind of dialogue is essential. It not only affirms the translational potential of their research, but also strengthens UC Davis’ reputation as a leader in human health innovation.

Innovative programs like this are what make Health Ventures, IEDO and Aggie Square such exciting hubs of entrepreneurship and discovery. We aim to provide researchers with the tools, perspective, connections and confidence to move their ideas forward, bridging the gap between the lab and the lives we hope to improve. We also aim to do it in a collaborative and engaging way that sparks a level of creativity and dialogue that a thirty-minute Zoom meeting would not.

Looking back, I’m proud of what we accomplished with this inaugural TRIage Innovation Forum, and I’m even more excited about what the future holds.

If you’d like your team to be part of a future TRIage Innovation Forum, I’d encourage you to reach out.

About the Author

Andrew Brown, Ph.D., is the director of strategic product portfolios for UC Davis Health Ventures, where he drives the expansion of human health product and commercial development expertise at UC Davis and UC Davis Health. He focuses on building high-value intellectual property portfolios collaborating closely with the UC Davis Technology Transfer Office, Venture Catalyst, Foundation and Corporate Engagement and other stakeholders.