08
April
2019
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00:00 AM
Europe/Amsterdam

University of Pittsburgh Appoints Medtech Executive and Alumnus Scott Morley as Director of its Coulter@Pitt Medtech Accelerator

PITTSBURGH (April 8, 2019) ... Building upon its successes in translational biomedical research and commercialization at the University of Pittsburgh, the Swanson School of Engineering has named Scott Morley as Director of its Coulter@Pitt medtech accelerator program.  Morley succeeds Allison Formal who left the University in February to pursue new opportunities outside of the region. 

Morley is a seasoned life sciences executive with broad experience in technology development, clinical trials, regulatory strategy, marketing, and sales.  He began his career at ALung Technologies, a Pittsburgh-based medical device company spun out from the University of Pittsburgh.  As ALung’s fourth employee, he quickly rose to become the lead engineer responsible for design and development of ALung’s artificial lung technology, the Hemolung RAS, which was originally developed in the lab of Bioengineering Professor William Federspiel. Morley went on to lead clinical studies in India and Germany resulting in global product approvals. Simultaneously, he built a new therapeutic market for the technology, establishing ALung’s leadership position through a strategy of clinical collaboration with global key opinion leaders and medical societies. After running a global product launch, Morley oversaw the start of ALung’s VENT-AVOID Trial, a 40-center pivotal IDE trial aimed at securing US FDA approval. Most recently, he founded 3Rivers MedTech LLC, providing innovation and commercialization services to the medtech industry. 

Morley is a two-time graduate of the University of Pittsburgh having earned a BS from the Swanson School of Engineering (Bioengineering) and an MBA from Katz Graduate School of Business (Marketing).  “We are excited to welcome Scott back to Pitt,” said Sanjeev Shroff, Distinguished Professor and Gerald E. McGinnis Chair of of Bioengineering. “Scott brings extensive experience in developing and commercializing medical devices from bench to the bedside, and our translational research teams across campus will be well served by his expertise.”

In tandem with his duties as the Coulter@Pitt Program Director, Morley is also an Entrepreneur in Residence with the University of Pittsburgh Innovation Institute where he is supporting the commercialization of life science innovations with a focus on medical devices and diagnostics. “There is a great collaboration between the Coulter Program and the Innovation Institute,” said Evan Facher, Vice Chancellor for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Director of the Innovation Institute. “Scott’s dual-role on campus will only further strengthen our partnership as we collaborate to build a robust engine for commercialization of Pitt’s biomedical technologies.”

“Pitt has taken great strides to develop a new culture of innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Morley. “University research is a primary catalyst for growth of the Pittsburgh life sciences industry. I am very appreciative of the opportunity to work with our partners across Pitt and the region as we seek to drive important advances in healthcare to successful commercialization for the benefit of patients and our regional economy.”

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About the Coulter@Pitt Program

The Coulter Translational Research Partners II Program (Coulter@Pitt) is a University based accelerator which helps faculty researchers translate their innovations to commercialization. By way of a competitive grant program, training processes, and collaborative services, University technologies are de-risked and viable commercial pathways identified. Coulter@Pitt extensively engages with business partners, mentors and clinical experts to bring industry perspectives to translational research. In 7+ years, the Coulter Program has attracted over 260 applications and funded 36 projects leading to eight Pitt start-up companies and 5 licenses.

About the Department of Bioengineering at the Swanson School of Engineering

Bioengineering is the application of engineering principles to analyze native biological systems and to design and manufacture tools, structures, and processes for solving problems in the life sciences. Successful patient-focused and commercialization-oriented collaborations between engineers and physicians who traditionally employ differing methodologies are critical to the burgeoning field and to regional economic development. Pitt's Department of Bioengineering, established in 1998 as part of the Swanson School of Engineering and ranked as one of the nation's top bioengineering programs, is credited for developing many major biomedical technologies: cardiac-assist device for infants, a blood-treatment tool that can free patients from ventilator dependence, materials that help regenerate various tissues and organs, to name a few.

About the University of Pittsburgh Innovation Institute

Established in 2013, The University of Pittsburgh Innovation Institute is the University’s hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.  The Innovation Institute provides a comprehensive suite of services for Pitt Innovators, from protecting intellectual property to the commercialization of new discoveries through licensing and/or new enterprise development. The Institute also provides a wealth of educational programming, mentoring and networking for Pitt faculty, students and partners. The Innovation Institute strengthens the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship at Pitt and is eager to facilitate and support entrepreneurial initiatives across the university and beyond. It is also invites alumni, entrepreneurs and industry partners to collaborate with our faculty and students to help achieve societal impact through commercialization.

Author: Lindsay Rodzwicz, Coulter@Pitt Manager

Contact: Lindsay Rodzwicz