UNT Health Fort Worth and the nonprofit TechFW recently renewed their 20-year partnership to refresh a collaboration that has supported the success of health-related startups.<\/p>\n
Entrepreneurs receive support from TechFW in finding funding, navigating regulatory processes and other help under the partnership.\u00a0<\/p>\n
UNT Health offers lab space, technology and education to companies working on projects such as the development of new drugs and medical devices.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we do is figure out who in their school is looking to create something, looking to build a business, and we provide the programming for them to really help bring it to that next level,\u201d TechFW Executive Director Caitlin McMinn said.<\/p>\n
The city of Fort Worth started TechFW in 1998 to spur local economic development.\u00a0<\/p>\n
UNT Health-connected entrepreneurs can participate in TechFW\u2019s programs offering support, such as ThinkLab and SmartStart.\u00a0<\/p>\n
ThinkLab<\/a> is an eight-week, cohort-based program that helps innovators develop ideas. SmartStart<\/a> provides business services and coaching to those looking to get their validated idea off the ground.<\/p>\n \u201cYoung entrepreneurial minds can go through TechFW programs as well as get guidance from UNT Health,\u201d said Dimitrios Karamichos, vice president for research and graduate studies at UNT Health. \u201cIt’s really a true partnership and something that we value a lot, and I think it really drives the DFW area forward.\u201d<\/p>\n The partnership has spurred several companies.\u00a0<\/p>\n ACDET, founded by now-retired UNT Health faculty member Dr. Frank Papa, sells a simulation device<\/a> to teach health professionals how to properly check a patient\u2019s abdomen for abnormalities.\u00a0<\/p>\n ZS Pharma, which once worked out of UNT Health labs, was acquired by AstraZeneca in 2015 for $2.7 billion.\u00a0<\/p>\n The biopharmaceutical company AyuVis<\/a> had been awarded 24 patents as of March. Diagnostics company Cx Precision Medicine<\/a> had been awarded 18 patents as of September.<\/p>\n The hope is that successful companies stay in the city, and they typically do, McMinn said.<\/p>\n The university and nonprofit launched a partnership in 2006 but recently decided it was time for a refresh. This summer, the two generated a new contract, discussing the needs of each and looking to the future.<\/p>\n One idea in the works is an innovation forum that would bring businesses together to network and build community through panels and a showcase. They are planning to hold the event in the spring, McMinn said.<\/p>\n TechFW and UNT Health both have ambitions for the partnership to continue expanding and evolving, officials said.<\/p>\n \u201cThere’s a lot of excitement with my discussions with them, and I think they’re excited as well,\u201d Karamichos said. \u201cThe best is still to come.\u201d<\/p>\n McKinnon Rice is the higher education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at mckinnon.rice@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Fort Worth Report partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage.<\/p>\n