Duke-NUS Medical School Launches S$20m LIVE Ventures for Research Commercialisation

Duke-NUS Medical School has launched LIVE Ventures, a S$20 million incubation programme to transform academic research into market-ready clinical applications.

The programme will provide Duke-NUS scientists with commercialisation expertise and resources, partnering with public and private sector entities to co-fund projects.

The initiative begins with a pilot project developing new treatments for chronic inflammatory diseases.

LIVE Ventures addresses the challenge of translating academic research into industrial products by guiding scientists through product-market fit evaluations.

An Investment Advisory Committee comprising industry experts, investors, and pharmaceutical companies will provide critical perspectives for project evaluation.

The programme will also pair projects with seasoned entrepreneurs, known as Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, who will offer mentorship and operational support.

This hands-on guidance is crucial for transitioning academic research into viable commercial ventures.

Traditionally, funding has focused on either basic scientific research or final-stage commercialisation, with limited resources for initial commercialisation steps.

LIVE Ventures aims to bridge this gap by supporting up to 20 Duke-NUS research projects over the next five years with an initial S$10 million tranche.

The programme will facilitate spin-offs and strategically invest in these companies to support their growth.

LIVE Ventures will leverage Duke-NUS’s network of industry partners to attract co-funders.

Strategic alliances with organisations like SingHealth and other entities, including 65LAB, will help promising technologies overcome the “valley of death” in innovations.

Dr. Rainny Xie, Head of LIVE Ventures, said, “As an incubator, LIVE Ventures aims to turn scientific discovery into viable commercial opportunities, providing industry expertise, mentorship, and funding support.”

The first project to receive investment from LIVE Ventures, in collaboration with 65LAB, is a platform developed by Associate Professor Lena Ho to identify targets for anti-inflammatory therapeutics.

The team expects to identify at least three candidates for diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases over the next two years.

Duke-NUS is recognized for its ability to translate research into commercial products, including the cPassTM COVID-19 test kit.

Associate Professor Christopher Laing, Vice-Dean for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, highlighted LIVE Ventures’ unique focus on integrating market perspectives early in the development process.

Business News Asia

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