CTSI congratulates selected UCLA Biodesign fellows, new applications open Aug 5

UCLA Biodesign, a program that seeks to transform medicine through the development of novel technologies, has selected the first cohort of UCLA Biodesign fellows. The initial cohort of ten Biodesign Fellows includes two UCLA Health faculty members and eight postgraduate professionals from engineering, business, and medicine, including current UCLA Health residents and fellows. UCLA Biodesign Fellows are joined by a Biodesign Business Creation Capstone team from the UCLA Anderson fully-employed MBA program (FEMBA).

2019 UCLA Biodesign Innovation Fellows

• Luke Allera, UCLA Anderson FEMBA
• Iheanacho (Obi) Emeruwa, MD, MBA
• Marcus Goudie, PhD
• Gil Herrnstadt, PhD
• Peter Hsiue, MD
• Gabe Oland, MD
• Neil Parikh, MD, MBA
• Stephen Speicher, MD, MS
• Alexandra Stavrakis, MD
• Renea Sturm, MD

2019 UCLA Biodesign Business Creation Capstone

• Mike Kurowski, UCLA Anderson FEMBA
• Ben Koupal, UCLA Anderson FEMBA
• Brett Jellen, UCLA Anderson FEMBA
• Chas Schlaack, UCLA Anderson FEMBA

The program offers these fellows an intensive year-long entrepreneurial opportunity where they identify and address challenging clinical needs at UCLA Health, the number one hospital in California and number six nationally. Development opportunities within the scope of UCLA Biodesign are aimed at transformative technologies – from advanced devices to sophisticated digital therapeutics. UCLA Biodesign Fellows have the opportunity to leverage clinical and health IT resources at UCLA Health through clinical immersion across disciplines as well as the market and business faculties at UCLA Anderson. Working in an interdisciplinary team, fellows leverage combined expertise in engineering, design, medicine and business to develop solutions that will transform patient care. Biodesign Fellows also receive curated instruction during a two-week bootcamp and mentorship throughout the program from industry professionals with domain expertise across the healthcare ecosystem.

New Application Round for the Fall

Beginning August 5, 2019, applications will be accepted for the UCLA Biodesign Fellowship. Applications are due November 1, 2019. For more details and to apply, Early-career MD, MBA and MS / PhDs in engineering, medicine, design, and computer science professionals with a strong interest in device and digital design are encouraged to apply. RNs with applicable experience are also encouraged to apply.

The UCLA Biodesign Fellowship is part of a regional economic development initiative in Southern California supported by a U.S. Economic Development Authority i6 Challenge grant to create a medtech hub in Los Angeles. Members of the UCLA and greater Los Angeles communities are invited to join UCLA Biodesign in their mission to accelerate medical innovation and training alongside their campus partners. There are many opportunities for engagement. Please send your ideas to biodesign@mednet.ucla.edu.

UCLA Biodesign is led by Jennifer McCaney, PhD, adjunct assistant professor of medicine at David Geffen School of Medicine and lecturer at UCLA Anderson, and Desert Horse-Grant, senior director of UCLA Health Research and Innovation.

UCLA Health, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and the UCLA Anderson School of Management launched UCLA Biodesign with the support of UCLA CTSI. Faculty from UCLA’s schools of engineering, dentistry, nursing, law and public health also lend their support and expertise to this exciting pilot program. 

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UCLA Biodesign Hub Receives i6 Challenge Grant

Image source: UCLA

Image caption: UCLA Biodesign leadership is seated with the 2019 Biodesign Innovation Fellows.
At front, from left: Biodesign Innovation Fellows Gabe Oland, Iheanacho (Obi) Emeruwa, Spencer Speicher, Gil Herrnstadt, and Luke Allera. Middle row, from left:Desert Horse Grant (Co-Director), Biodesign Innovation Fellows Renea Sturm and Alexandra Stavrakis, and Jennifer McCaney (Executive Director). At back, from left: Biodesign Innovation Fellows Neil Parikh, Peter Hsiue, and Marcus Goudie.