Ragan Robertson - Is Having a Board Beneficial to Tech Transfer Offices?

Were you aware that the UCLA Technology Development Group has an actual board? Listen to Lisa and her guest, Dr. Ragan Robertson, as they discuss his experience in the Tech Transfer field, how his office differs from others within the University of California (UC) system and tech transfer offices in general, and much more on this episode of Tech Transfer IP. 

Ragan is a Business Development and Information Systems officer at the UCLA Technology Development Group, also known as UCLA TDG. He is currently involved in marketing, patenting, and licensing of UCLA's extensive life science technology portfolio, focusing on small molecule oncology and gene technologies. In addition, Ragan is also responsible for the implementation and adoption of several information technology tools aimed at improving the efficiency of the office. 

Listen, as Ragan discusses how his office is structured and why it differs from others in the UC system. He chats about the board and their importance to what his office is accomplishing, and how they are setting up their own systems. Ragan also speaks about the UCLA Innovation fund and how they are using the money to push forward new innovations.

Ragan shares his feelings on the Bayh-Dole Act and what he thinks should be changed. Ragan chats about his office's vetting system for provisionals and the matrix they use throughout the whole process. He also speaks briefly about where his office stands on litigation and how his patent negotiations today differ from the ones he did at the beginning of his career.

Listen, as Ragan discusses some of his office's biggest successes and some of their biggest challenges. His insight into credentialing, what his three wishes would be for UCLA TDG if he had a Genie in a bottle, and the benefits he sees with organizations like AUTM. The UC system has many great Tech Transfers offices, and you won't want to miss hearing about this one.

In This Episode:

• [02:28] Ragan, welcome to the show!
• [02:41] Ragan shares what led him from Columbia to UCLA.
• [04:10] How does your office function within the UC system?
• [06:28] Ragan speaks about his office having a board that oversees what they do.
• [07:45] How did the board evolve and come to be at UCLA TDG?
• [10:50] Ragan chats about who is on the board.
• [12:51] Ragan speaks about how they are changing up their technology and pulling away from the UC system.
• [15:41] How is your office structured? How large is your office compared to other tech transfer offices?
• [22:01] Ragan shares about the UCLA innovation fund and how they use it to push forward new innovations.
• [24:25] How did you grow from one million to three million for the fund?
• [27:10] Ragan chats about what he feels the Bayh-Dole Act has done to help Tech Transfer offices and innovation.
• [29:39] Are there any changes you would like to see made to the Bayh-Dole Act?
• [34:55] Ragan discusses how his office's vetting processes of their provisionals.
• [37:10] Do you use the same matrix through the whole process?
• [39:26] Ragan chats about litigation and whether they have had very many.
• [41:58] Concerning past patent negotiations, how would you do it differently today?
• [44:00] Ragan shares some of his office's most significant success stories.
• [47:33] He speaks about a prostate therapeutic drug that UCLA TDG has invented.
• [48:45] What would you say are some of your office's biggest challenges?
• [52:51] Ragan chats about what UCLA does for women entrepreneurs.
• [54:12] Do you find AUTM and other organizations like that beneficial?
• [56:58] Ragan shares his insight into credentialing and its importance.
• [59:10] If you had a Genie in a bottle, what would your three wishes for UCLA TDG be?
• [1:01:37] Thank you so much for being on the show today!

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