Accelerating BioVenture Innovation Info Session
Friday, August 14, 2026 - 12:00pm to 1:00pmAre you a graduate student or postdoc interested in developing commercialization skills to work effectively in industry, broaden the scope of applications for your scientific knowledge, or launch your own startup? Would you value the opportunity to collaborate on a meaningful team project and strengthen your leadership skills?
If so, we invite you to participate in the Accelerating BioVenture Innovation (ABI) course this fall. ABI is a 15-week course that brings together interdisciplinary teams to develop commercialization plans around patented, unlicensed technologies from WCM and neighboring institutions. Teams are matched with industry mentors as well as MBA students and/or graduates. The commercialization plans take the form of investor pitches and are presented to a panel of venture capitalists and industry leaders in a final pitch contest at the end of the semester.
Whether you already have a product idea or are simply curious about innovation and entrepreneurship, now is the time to gain hands-on experience. Participants develop a practical understanding of the commercialization process for academic inventions and engage directly with real-world, patented life science inventions. The course attracts graduate students, postdocs, and other trainees from the Tri-I community, Cornell Tech, and Upper East Side hospitals. It is a great way to network with like-minded individuals across the ecosystem and be introduced to industry representatives that could be helpful as you advance in your career.
NCI SBIR/STTR Funding: Bringing the Science of Cancer to the Market
Wednesday, August 12, 2026 - 11:00am to 5:00pmDo you have a late-stage discovery project in cancer and want to learn how the SBIR/STTR program can help advance your research toward commercialization?
Are you considering collaborating with industry or launching a startup to de-risk and commercialize your invention?
The day will begin with an overview of the NCI SBIR/STTR program at BioVenture eLab from 11:00am to 12:00pm. This session will also be broadcast via Zoom. During the presentation, Drs. Twomey and Li will explain how the SBIR/STTR program differs from traditional grant funding, discuss recent changes Congress made during the program’s reauthorization, and highlight what applicants need to know to prepare competitive proposals.
In the afternoon, Drs. Twomey and Li will hold 1:1 meetings with inventors from 12:30pm to 5:00pm. If you are looking to apply for an SBIR/STTR grant for the first time or have previously applied and plan to resubmit, please don’t miss this opportunity to receive guidance from these experienced NCI representatives. Meeting slots are limited and expected to fill quickly, so we encourage you to RSVP as soon as possible.
Discovery to First-in-Human: Reducing Uncertainty Through Translational Science and Academic Collaboration
Tuesday, August 4, 2026 - 12:00pm to 1:30pmBioVenture eLab will host Dr. Sara Glickstein Bar-Zeev (Ph.D. '00), principal clinical scientist in Genentech's gRED OMNI Early Clinical Development group, for a discussion on drug development and clinical research.
Drawing on her experience leading first-in-human and proof-of-concept clinical trials, Dr. Glickstein Bar-Zeev will explore how translational science helps reduce uncertainty in early drug development, the evolving clinical research landscape, and the growing opportunities for collaboration between academia and industry.
A Weill Cornell Medicine alumna with a doctorate in neurobiology, Dr. Glickstein Bar-Zeev joined Genentech in 2017 after a decade in medical communications focused on publication strategy and medical writing. She previously held research faculty appointments at Weill Cornell Medicine and Columbia University, completed fellowships in ophthalmology and psychiatry, and has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed publications.
Whether you are a researcher, clinician, student, or industry executive, this conversation will offer valuable insights into key decisions to be made during each phase of clinical development.
SBIR/STTR Workshop: Application Process & Funding Options for Startups
Tuesday, August 4, 2026 - 11:00am to 12:00pmEverything you need to know before applying for SBIR/STTR startup funding!
On Tuesday, August 4 at 11 a.m. ET, Kirk Macolini of InteliSpark will lead a free virtual workshop on the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) application process. Join us to learn how to secure non-dilutive funding for your startup.
You will learn:
- How to craft a successful SBIR/STTR application
- Strategies for developing a competitive proposal
- The latest news about the SBIR/STTR program
3D Printing Seminar
Thursday, July 23, 2026 - 3:00pm to 5:00pmDo you have ideas for a new medical device to improve patient care or a tool to support your current medical training objectives? Do you need assistance translating these ideas into a graphic design and printing a 3D prototype?
BioVenture eLab is hosting an introductory 3D printing class on Thursday, July 23, 3-5pm in its MakerSpace (1157 York Ave). Learn 3D printing basics and how to workshop your medical device projects. In addition to learning how to use specialized software to create designs for 3D printing, topics covered in this seminar will include:
- biodesign concepts
- how to use design software to refine and augment your designs
- tips for using a 3D printer to generate an initial prototype
The seminar will feature Dylan Manuele, a Weill Cornell Medicine medical student who possesses a biomedical engineering degree from the University of Rochester.
NSF I-Corps Virtual Information Session
Wednesday, July 15, 2026 - 12:00pm to 12:45pmAre you a STEM researcher interested in making an impact with your technology innovation? The National Science Foundation’s I-Corps program can provide you with professional training, mentoring, and up to $50,000 in funding for customer discovery.
Hosted by the Interior Northeast I-Corps Hub (IN I-Corps), the virtual NSF I-Corps Information Session on Wednesday, July 15 (12:00 – 12:45 p.m. ET) is designed for busy graduate students, postdocs, and faculty interested in learning more about I-Corps regional and national programming. NSF I-Corps instructor Caroline Cannon and program alum Hannah Stolrow will be in attendance to share their experience and answer questions.
The NSF created I-Corps (Innovation Corps) to bridge the gap between fundamental research discoveries in science and engineering and the commercialization of technologies, products, and processes with the potential to benefit society.
Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1981025652053?aff=oddtdtcreator
PORTENT 2026 Technology Showcase
Thursday, July 9, 2026 - 4:30pm to 6:30pmPORTENT translates breakthrough point-of-care diagnostics into rapid, affordable tests that reduce the burden of chronic disease, curb infectious threats, and strengthen prevention efforts across the United States.
The PORTENT 2026 Technology Showcase will bring together current PORTENT performer teams along with a select group of companies from the New York City/Cornell ecosystem developing promising point-of-care diagnostics, digital health tools, clinical screening technologies, monitoring platforms, and related medical technologies.
Join us to connect with startups, investors, industry partners, clinicians, researchers, students, commercialization experts and others interested in advancing point-of-care health technologies. Register here.
The Biggest Learner: Lessons in Turning “No” into Next
Wednesday, June 17, 2026 - 6:00pm to 7:00pmThis unique Weill Cornell Graduate School Alumni Advisory Council series celebrates alumni who exemplify bold leadership—those who take risks, transform setbacks into opportunities, and push the boundaries of their fields. Designed as an engaging Q&A conversation, "The Biggest Learner" will offer firsthand insight into how exceptional leaders think, persevere, and innovate.
The June 17th session features Dr. Brian Wong (M.D. ’01, Ph.D.). AAC co-chairs Dr. Sara Glickstein Bar-Zeev (Ph.D. ’00) and Dr. Rana Sawaya (Ph.D. ’04) will interview Brian. Find out how his company, RAPT Therapeutics, was acquired by GSK.
Meet Charlie O'Donnell, author of "FOUNDER UNFRIENDLY"
Wednesday, June 17, 2026 - 5:00pm to 6:30pmWe are pleased to invite you to a special discussion with Charlie O'Donnell, founder of Brooklyn Bridge Ventures and author of FOUNDER UNFRIENDLY: What Investors Won’t Tell You About Getting Funded.
2026 Weill Cornell Medicine Biomedical Innovation Challenge
Thursday, June 4, 2026 - 5:30pm to 8:00pmCelebrate academic innovation and entrepreneurship while supporting Weill Cornell faculty participants in the 2026 Biomedical Innovation Challenge.
Join the Weill Cornell Medicine community in celebrating the culmination of the Biomedical Innovation Challenge — a premier, faculty-focused program advancing translational science and commercialization.
Over the course of this highly competitive 12-week program, participating teams engaged in expert-led seminars covering key elements of biomedical commercialization, including market and industry analysis, intellectual property strategy, R&D planning, regulatory pathways, manufacturing, business modeling, budgeting and fundraising, among other critical disciplines. Each team was also paired with experienced industry mentors to help shape their commercialization strategies.
The evening will begin with live presentations from the finalist teams, followed by judging from a distinguished panel of venture capital and industry leaders who will select the winning pitches.
Immediately following the pitch competition, please join us for a networking reception at the Belfer Research Building, 2nd floor, Skylight Lounge.
