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t m c » p u l s e | s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 5 15 exposing both UH and Rice students to a health care-centric innovation approach unique in the region during the now annual Bayou Showcase event. In the case of health care technologies created at UH, TMC provides a wealth of opportunities for our faculty and students to work with colleagues and mentors that are experts in the medical and health care fields. Understanding the regulatory landscape is one of those areas where the expertise housed in the TMCx will be essential for health care-based UH startups to achieve that market transition. Q | Can you speak a bit to the col- laboration across the Texas Medical Center around innovation? A | There are a number of exciting col- laborations going on in the TMC based on technologies developed at UH. These include clinical testing of various mind-machine interfaces that allow spinal cord injured patients to walk again using exoskeletons or amputees to control prosthetic limbs controlled only by their brain waves. UH scientists and their TMC colleagues have also developed advanced tracking technolo- gies to maximize the most efficient use of surgical suites and 'smart' trochars designed to provide better patient outcomes during laparoscopic surgery. There is a new cancer drug, Phosplatin, presently in phase I clinical trials in the TMC. There are at least two other new cancer immunotherapy treatments developed at UH that are currently in animal or human testing in the TMC. All of these illustrate the value of being able to have faculty develop fundamen- tal breakthroughs in UH laboratories while having the colleagues, clinical expertise and facilities at the TMC to test and refine those technologies to bring them to market as quickly as possible. Q | Can you share the vision for the next five years, relative to innovation? A | Innovation and entrepreneur- ship are central to the University of Houston's long-term strategic plan. Creating an innovation and entrepre- neurial ecosystem that is anchored at UH but firmly embedded in the larger Houston and regional ecosystem provides unique opportunities for our faculty and students, expands the research base of the university, while also helping UH to drive the economic prosperity of the city and region which we serve. UH has set in motion a variety of internal programs designed to pro- mote, foster and reward innovation on campus, while taking steps to educate and develop its own entrepreneurial workforce, drawn from UH faculty and students. These programs not only help accelerate the transition of technolo- gies to the market by UH startups and spin-offs, but in the future will also help populate and drive the regional innovation ecosystem through the next generation of 'entrepreneurial leads' created by these programs. Additional resources include access to capital for these companies through strategic partnerships with several early-stage investor groups, such as Fannin Innovation, Houston Health Ventures and our newest partner, the Texas Collegiate Regional Center, who will not only invest in UH technologies but will also build a new technology inno- vation facility at UH-ERP for additional startup companies. The UH Innovation Center and associated infrastructure at UH-ERP is fast becoming an epicenter for technology innovation and entre- preneurship within a much larger 'net- worked' ecosystem that includes TMCx and our greater Houston partners. The mission of a Research One University is not only to create new knowledge and educate the next generation of scholars, but also to combine its cutting edge research programs and human capital to create novel technologies and pro- cesses that are of benefit to all mankind. By providing a geographical location at UH ERP that fosters 'entrepreneurial density' and promotes the type of col- laborative 'collisions' needed to drive true innovation, the University of Houston will continue not only to serve the people, city and region as an engine of economic prosperity, but also truly make UH 'the house that innovation built.' COMING SOON TO 288, A PREMIER LUXURY COMMUNITY LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN! No warranty or representation of intended use, design or proposed improvements are made herein. All plans for land or facilities are subject to change without notice. Nothing presented in this advertisement shall obligate the owner, or any other person or entity, to construct facilities or develop land as shown. We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of Equal Housing Opportunity in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. South of the Medical Center off 288, past Highway 6 a wondrous new community is taking shape. It's called Meridiana and it's more than just an amazing place to live — it's a community infused with the spirit of exploration and discovery. — Details about Meridiana's unprecedented amenities will be revealed soon! Don't miss the excitement. Sign up at MeridianaTexas.com today to receive the latest info and updates. • • MERCO-037 TMC PulseAd Sept 4.6875x12.25 MECH.indd 1 8/6/15 3:38 PM