Newswise — PHILADELPHIA – (Oct. 24, 2014) – The Wistar Institute is pleased to announce the appointment of Heather A. Steinman, Ph.D., M.B.A., as Vice President for Business Development and Executive Director, Technology Transfer, a newly created position with a pivotal leadership role in revitalizing Wistar’s technology commercialization activities.

Steinman’s focus includes forging new strategic partnerships with industry, non-profit and local academic institutions, and advancing Wistar’s growing pipeline of biomedical research discoveries in areas including small molecule and biological therapeutics for melanoma, ovarian cancer, oncology, immuno-oncology, and novel vaccine platforms.

“We are pleased to have Heather Steinman join our exceptional team of research professionals to help turn Wistar’s scientific and medical advances into products that have a significant impact on improving health,” said Russel E. Kaufman, M.D., Wistar President and CEO.

Wistar, an international leader in basic biomedical research, provides a collaborative, team science environment for researchers at the forefront of cancer research, genetics and vaccine development. This approach allows researchers with varying backgrounds and expertise to more effectively collaborate and tackle the scientific challenges of tomorrow.

As Vice President of Business Development, and Executive Director, Technology Transfer, Steinman will lead and oversee the implementation of Wistar’s intellectual property strategy and all technology commercialization activities, including licensing, start-ups, and collaborative research and development partnerships. The addition of Steinman will enhance Wistar’s academic technology transfer – a rapidly changing, increasingly challenging industry that requires flexible and creative approaches to collaboration with for-profit partners.

"I join Wistar during a particularly exciting era of growth, as it expands both its scientific bench strength and research capabilities,” said Steinman. “Wistar has an incredible reputation as a global leader in biomedical research, known for its nimble approach, remarkable science, support for unfettered innovation, and exceptional engine for pre-clinical target discoveries. As we move through the research innovation cycle, I look forward to leveraging these strengths to move discoveries from the laboratory to the marketplace.”

Steinman brings more than 16 years of experience in technology transfer and commercialization of early stage, basic life sciences discoveries. She joins Wistar most recently from the University of Pennsylvania, where she was Director of the Penn Center for Innovation Perelman School of Medicine Office. Prior to that, Steinman played an essential role supporting the creation of new start-ups through Penn’s UPstart program in addition to her licensing and business development functions. Before Penn, Steinman spent 10 years in various roles of increasing responsibility as a technology licensing professional at the Office of Technology Management for the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Steinman graduated Summa Cum Laude with dual degrees in biology and psychology from the honors program at Baldwin-Wallace College. She holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Massachusetts Medical School and an M.B.A. from the Isenberg School of Management of the University of Massachusetts.

The Wistar Institute is an international leader in biomedical research with special expertise in cancer research and vaccine development. Founded in 1892 as the first independent nonprofit biomedical research institute in the country, Wistar has long held the prestigious Cancer Center designation from the National Cancer Institute. The Institute works actively to ensure that research advances move from the laboratory to the clinic as quickly as possible. The Wistar Institute: Today’s Discoveries – Tomorrow’s Cures. On the Web at www.wistar.org.

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