News

The Brock Family Center for Applied Innovation was featured on the Vanderbilt Health Innovation panel at Vanderbilt University’s inaugural Convoy Conference on March 6. The three-day conference included a robust line-up of keynote speakers and panel discussions that covered a wide range of topics, from alumni entrepreneurial experiences to industry leaders' insights. Brock Family Center Director Ken Holroyd, MD moderated the panel discussion that highlighted three founders who are innovating in their respective fields— Jeffrey Dendy, MD, Daniel Fabbri, PhD, FAMIA and Michael Golinko, MD, FACS, FAAP.

Commercializing an idea or a business takes a lot of time, resources and people. The Brock Family Center for Applied Innovation is familiar with the process. Established in 2023 through a $10 million gift from the Brock family, the Center works with innovators from Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt University to accelerate the commercialization of their discoveries through collaboration with industry partners. There’s one local and familiar partner that’s making an impact on innovators and students.

The talk provided insights into the challenges and rewards of commercializing academic research.

Within the intellectual powerhouse that is Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center thrives a group of doctors, engineers, computer scientists and others who also are visionaries, inventors and entrepreneurs.