university of texas system update

1. university of texas system update patriciahurn vice chancellor for research and innovation If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.

2. Combine talent, assets and resources of UT Brownsville, UT Pan American and UT Regional Academic Health Center to establish a new university and medical school • Goal is to build a world-class institution to help transform educational, economic and health care opportunities in South Texas • Bring PUF money to South Texas for first time • National search for president and medical school dean in process • Announce president Feb.-March 2014 • Community campaign to name new UT is Nov. 11-Dec. 6 • Regents expected to select name in December • First class enrolls in fall 2015 • More information: www.ProjectSouthTexas.com

3. HPC • Advanced computing has become essential to the future progress of research • Priority access by UT researchers to computing resources at TACC UTDR • Large-scale, highly reliable storage infrastructure for all campuses • Centralized security administration, including better protection of intellectual property UTRC Features High Performance Computing (HPC) Data Repository (UTDR) Network Network • Allows distributed communities for collaboration between and across disciplines • Enables access to HPC and UTDR at 10 Gbps

4. Why use the UTRC? • Develop distributed knowledge communities that support peer-to-peer collaboration • Attract world-class faculty and students • Allow for new modes of education based on open access • Overcome lack of local resources • Remain on the cutting edge of research • Enable digital data preservation • Disaster recovery • Regular maintenance and format migrations • Create shared resource advantages • Scalability • Cost savings – economy of scale • Improved risk management • Increase researchers’ grant competitiveness

5. Texas FreshAIR attracted industry partners Eleven large pharmaceutical companies currently working with Texas FreshAIR – AbbVie, Astellas, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers-Squibb, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis. Successful establishment of a Texas FreshAIR External Advisory Board: All eleven companies listed above have representation on the EAB and provide input on strategic objectives. Eli Lilly committed to follow-up visits to Texas-visits to Dallas and Houston geographical areas in November-2013. Other cities to follow.

6. Created a UT health research “inventory” to share with FreshAIR industry partners • Using standardized procedures and documents, a Texas FreshAIR Request For One page research summaries that was launched at all six health institutions (May 2013). • One hundred and seventy seven research one-page summaries obtained from individual faculty from all health institutions shared with industry partners (June, 2013). • Pharmaceutical companies earmarked 87 research summaries as potentially interesting for further follow-up. 49% of faculty members shortlisted for further collaborative discussions (August, 2013).

7. Inaugural Texas FreshAIR Event Sept 25 & 26, 2013 Austin 225 attendees, including 30 pharmaceutical company attendees, 51 total platform presentations from faculty and pharmaceutical attendees, 75 poster presentations. 30 face to face partnering meetings between faculty and pharmaceutical executives and scientists. Pharmaceutical companies impressed, keenly interested in working with UT system and its institutions. “Texas FreshAIR is a unique initiative that provides Pfizer with potential opportunities to access scientific expertise across all six health science institutions under the UT System umbrella. To engage with top-notch faculty from these highly regarded institutions across Texas at the same time and in the same place is an efficient and novel way to share insights and explore potential collaborations”. Ron Newbold, Vice President, Pfizer

8. Big Picture Recommendations Texas FreshAIR • Develop Texas as the “Third Coast”. Recruit industry to re-locate, develop biotechnology depth, strong partnerships and consortium-like structures between industry and UT and other Texas university systems • Create a proposal for seed funding in the next 3 months that would address joint research area of interest in the “pre-competitive” space, e.g. neuroscience, diabetes, obesity Funding for the seed fund should be shared across multiple industry partners, UT System, individual UT campuses, and other appropriate sources 3. Continue Texas FreshAIR events, at minimum one each year, include venture capital and biotechnology companies

9. Texas FreshAIR Recommendations for UT System 1. Create a central portal for industry interactions with UT health institutions, “one stop” for all components of collaboration and partnerships, including regulatory and legal activities 2. Create a UT system-wide web-based inventory of research activities, experts and assets 3. Evaluate position and mechanics of UT intellectual property with goal of enhancing simplicity 4. Develop or increase existing standardized agreement for material transfer (align with AUTM), confidential disclosure 5. Create a shortened process for starting clinical trials and centralized “hub” or “network” for clinical trials across UT System

10. phurn@utsystem edu