Nucleate RTP — Panel Discussion: From Breakthrough to Business: What makes science investable?
📈 Nucleate RTP — Panel Discussion: From Breakthrough to Business: What makes science investable?
Are you a grad student, postdoc, or life science researcher with a technology that could have real-world impact? Learn how scientific innovations are evaluated for market potential, risk, commercialization, legal considerations, and funding—and what it takes to move an idea beyond the lab and toward a biotech venture.
Join Nucleate RTP and UNC Training Initiatives in Biomedical and Biological Sciences (TIBBS) on Tuesday, October 27, from 6:00–8:30 PM for a panel session entitled From Breakthrough to Business: What makes science investable?
We’re bringing together experts from biotech business development, technology commercialization, and law to share their perspectives on what it takes to translate promising research into a viable venture.
🎤 Our Panelists:
Rob Hallford, MBA – Vice President of Business Development, Atsena Therapeutics
Marianne de Bedout Mora, MS – Senior Associate, Technology Marketing & Innovation Initiatives, Duke University
John Rudd, JD – Partner, Hutchinson PLLC
Pepper Landson, CPC - Executive Partner & Consulting Chief of Staff, Cheval Noir Inc.; Entrepreneur in Residence, UNC - CH
Our Agenda:
6-7 pm Appetizers, Registration, Networking
7-8 pm Panel Session
8-8:30 pm Conclusion and Networking
What You’ll Learn:
How to assess the market potential, risk, and commercial readiness of a scientific technology
How to navigate IP protection, university technology transfer, and licensing
Key legal and structural steps involved in turning academic research into a startup
Funding pathways and key considerations for launching and scaling a biotech venture
Connect with students, postdocs, researchers, entrepreneurs, mentors, and biotech professionals from across the Triangle and beyond.
🍽️Appetizers and refreshments will be provided!
📍Event Details
Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Time: 6:00–8:30 PM
Location: UNC–Chapel Hill Bioinformatics Building, Room 1131
🚗 Parking is available at:
- The South Chiller Parking lot (https://maps.unc.edu/parking/weeknight-parking/permit-or-temporary-weeknight-pass/). Payment can be made through the ParkMobile app (see Weeknight Parking: https://move.unc.edu/parking/pricing/).
- Dogwood Deck: Open in Google Maps
(UNC students with a license plate pre-registered with the university are encouraged not to park at Dogwood Deck, to avoid receiving a citation).
Questions? Reach out to us at rtp@nucleate.org.
We hope to see you there!
About the Host:
Nucleate is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering the next generation of biotech leaders. With chapters spanning 41 geographic regions and participation from over 280 academic institutions, Nucleate sparks new intellectual communities and embeds emerging talent within a global biotech community. Through open-access educational programming, Nucleate helps democratize biotech innovation — removing barriers and helping founders concentrate on building transformational technologies. Visit www.nucleate.org for more information, and visit https://nucleate.org/privacy-policy/ to read our privacy policy.
We want to thank our HQ supporters for championing our open-access mission and empowering the next generation of biotech entrepreneurs!
Platinum: Eli Lilly and Company, Genentech, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, MilliporeSigma
Philanthropic Support: Lyda Hill Philanthropies
Preferred Partners: Pillar VC, Amino Collective, Fenwick, Mercury, Fedsprout, Citrin Cooperman
In-Kind Support: AcademicLabs, Lens.org