Driving Therapeutic Innovation: Insights from Venture Creators
Post Date: January 31, 2025 | Publish Date:
Have you ever wondered what it takes to transform a scientific discovery into a life-changing therapy? While publishing findings is critical, it may only be the first step to creating solutions that improve patient care and outcomes.
Cincinnati Children’s Innovation Ventures recently welcomed Vyas Ramanan, PhD, venture partner at Third Rock Ventures, for an insider’s view on turning academic research into biotech startups. Drawing on his experience building companies and advancing therapies, he shared what drives success—and what pitfalls to avoid—when commercializing science.
In 2007, the founders of Third Rock Ventures identified a gap in the biotech ecosystem: groundbreaking scientific discoveries often struggled to reach patients due to the risk-averse financial climate. Investors at the time favored lower-risk, incremental improvements over bold innovation and investment.
Third Rock aimed to bridge this gap by creating startups focused on emerging science, particularly from academia, and translating it into therapeutics, including small molecules, biologics, cell and gene therapies. Now, Third Rock Ventures has a track record of supporting successful bioscience startups, including several with academic medical centers like Cincinnati Children’s.
“For Third Rock Ventures, our model isn’t just about providing capital,” Ramanan said. “We roll up our sleeves and build these companies from the ground up.”
Ramanan says that success requires solid science, careful planning, strong partnerships, and a clear focus on solving unmet medical needs.
Their stage-gated commercialization process, which includes early “group genius” insights, rigorous evaluation and early collaboration with academic investigators, highlights the importance of refining therapeutic concepts and validating hypotheses early in development.
Another principle in successful therapeutic commercialization is patient-centered innovation. “We keep patients at the center of everything we do, aiming to create advances that truly matter,” said Ramanan.
Third Rock Ventures’ model also emphasizes leveraging networks within the biotech ecosystem, including partnerships with contract research organizations (CROs), pharma, and other biotech companies. These collaborations enhance capabilities and maintain alignment with pressing unmet medical challenges. Together, these approaches can help scientists navigate the path to commercialization by providing a structured yet adaptable framework for translating discoveries into impactful therapies.
Ramanan’s visit illustrates what is possible when academic innovation meets entrepreneurial vision. Building bridges between science and business offers hope for breakthroughs that could redefine the future of medicine.
“It’s about solving problems that matter,” he concluded. “Turning cutting-edge science into medicines that transform lives.”
Innovation and technology transfer offices—like Cincinnati Children’s Innovation Ventures—are a valuable resource dedicated to helping facilitate collaboration between inventors and investors in a way that preserves intellectual property and fosters cooperation. To explore our technologies or learn more about Cincinnati Children’s Innovation Ventures, visit our website.
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The Research Horizons blog features news and insights about the latest discoveries and innovations developed by the scientists of Cincinnati Children's. This blog does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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