Bridging the Gap From Academic Research to Commercialization: Lessons Learned From the Integrated Entrepreneurial Training and Mentor-Guided Project Funding at We-Reach

WE-REACH# is an NIH-designated national Research, Evaluation, and Commercialization Hub (REACH) based at the University of Washington. It is a private-public partnership leveraging contributions from community domain experts to create an integrated framework that trains and supports academic inventors in translating their research innovations into impactful commercial health products. In six years, WE-REACH has trained 564 individuals including students, post-docs, staff members, and professors in entrepreneurial strategies focused on identifying market gaps, crafting commercial value propositions, and developing innovative approaches to address challenges in the product development journey. This effort began through curated public training sessions that engaged the broader Pacific Northwest region. Some participants from these sessions went on to assemble project teams that received substantial funding, support, and mentorship from WE-REACH, enabling them to advance product innovations in therapeutics, medical and diagnostic devices, and research tools. WE-REACH fostered a collaborative environment supporting 25 funded projects involving more than 169 participants. To date, WE-REACH support to academic investors has led to 1 FDA-approved product, 10 spinout companies, $1.14 M in SBIR/STTR funding, $41 M in venture capital funding, and $19.8 M in foundation and federal funding. In total, WE-REACH projects led by academic inventors have secured $61.9 M in follow-on funding stemming from $3.8 M project funding, yielding a return on investment of 19.8x. The WE-REACH structure and case studies presented may serve as a model blueprint for other hubs seeking to empower academic inventors in the commercialization of health innovations. The WE-REACH team is pleased to share these outcomes and insights.