From innovation to impact
Biomedical research at Harvard has the potential to improve countless lives, revolutionize industries, and create immense social and economic value. Translating this early-stage research into compelling, validated technologies requires careful planning, focused resources, and a tireless pursuit of results.
The Blavatnik Biomedical Accelerator guides Harvard scientists toward translational impact by providing strategic, monetary, and advisory support for well-defined research projects. Our work is expressly aimed at hastening the pace of scientific progress, developing a shared vision with partners in industry, and ensuring that lifesaving technologies born at Harvard will become new products that impact the world for the better.
Read about the new research projects supported in 2018.
Learn more about our tried-and-true approach in the Blavatnik Biomedical Accelerator brochure (PDF).
Proving the value of big ideas
The Accelerator seeks to support innovative, investigator-initiated research, and to develop preliminary observations into robust intellectual property positions. Its primary goal is to advance technologies to the point where an industry partnership can commence.
We employ a proven strategy of selecting projects with significant commercial potential, and providing financial support and domain expertise to fuel translational research, proof-of-concept, and technological development. We simultaneously build relationships with industry, generating partnerships and licensing opportunities, and facilitating startup formation and investment.
Expanding Our Impact
The Accelerator dramatically expanded its capabilities in 2013 thanks to a major gift from the Blavatnik Family Foundation.
Recent Blavatnik News
By helping translate the inventions that happen here at Harvard into projects and businesses with real-world impact, the Accelerator can provide a unique and powerful spur to collaboration and innovation – both of which are crucial to solving society's most difficult challenges.
Nitin Nohria
Dean, Harvard Business School
The Blavatnik Biomedical Accelerator Advisory Committee
The Blavatnik Biomedical Accelerator Advisory Committee comprises academic thought leaders and accomplished members of the biopharma and life-science venture communities. This distinguished group provides critical input on project selection and oversight, helping to ensure that research work plans have been designed to drive results, add value, and effectively address key criteria for licensing.
KEVIN BITTERMAN, PhD
Partner
Atlas Venture
ALEXIS BORISY
Partner
Third Rock Ventures
JON CLARDY, PhD
Hsien Wu and Daisy Yen Wu Professor of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology
Harvard Medical School
ROSANA KAPELLER, MD, PhD
Formerly CSO
Nimbus Therapeutics
DIANE MATHIS, PhD
Morton Grove-Rasmussen Professor of Immunohematology
Harvard Medical School
CHRIS MIRABELLI, PhD
Managing Director
Healthcare Ventures
VICKI SATO, PhD
Chairman, Vir Biotechnology
Chairman, Denali Therapeutics
STEVE TREGAY, PhD
Founder, President, and CEO
FORMA Therapeutics
STACIE WENINGER, PhD
President
F-Prime Biomedical Research Initiative
New projects in 2018
In labs across Harvard University, 11 innovative research projects received new support from the Blavatnik Biomedical Accelerator in 2018. Our investigators are advancing crucial translational work in the areas of drug delivery, cancer, regenerative medicine, neuroscience, infectious disease, and therapeutics development for kidney disease, deafness, and heart failure. These projects are driving rapidly toward commercial partnership. To learn more, please contact us.
Drug Delivery
Delivery of Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies via Acoustophoretic Printing
Jennifer Lewis
Hansjorg Wyss Professor of Biologically Inspired Engineering and Jianming Yu Professor of Arts and Sciences, Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Oral Delivery of Biologics using Ionic Liquids
Samir Mitragotri
Hiller Professor of Bioengineering and Hansjorg Wyss Professor of Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Cancer
Development of an Antibody to Alter a Novel Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor
David Scadden
Gerald and Darlene Jordan Professor of Medicine and Professor of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Targeting a Key Pathogenic Factor of Cachexia Caused by Cancer
Norbert Perrimon
James Stillman Professor of Developmental Biology, Harvard Medical School
Regenerative Medicine
Developing Novel Geroprotein Agents to Combat Age-related Muscle Pathologies
Amy Wagers
Forst Family Professor of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard College Professor, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences
New Methods to Differentiate Human Stem Cells
George Church
Robert Winthrop Professor of Genetics, Harvard Medical School
Neuroscience
Compounds for the Treatment of Tactile Hypersensitivity in Autism Spectrum Disorders
David Ginty
Edward R. and Anne G. Lefler Professor of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School
Infectious Disease
Development of Small Molecules with Broad-spectrum Activity Against the Flaviviruses Including Dengue and Zika
Priscilla Yang
Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School
Therapeutics Development for Kidney Disease, Deafness, and Heart Failure
Polycystic Kidney Disease: Mechanistic Dissection and Discovering Therapeutic Targets
Adrian Salic
Professor of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School
Discovery of Gene Regulatory Elements for Treating Hereditary Deafness
David Corey
Bertarelli Professor of Translational Medical Science, Harvard Medical School
Relaxin Receptor Agonists as Next-generation Therapies for Heart Failure
Andrew Kruse
Associate Professor of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School