Leadership message: How UC Davis Health Ventures brings human health innovations to life
(SACRAMENTO)
Dear Colleagues,
At UC Davis Health, innovation doesn’t stop at discovery—it’s about making a difference. Imagine this scenario: one of our researchers discovers a groundbreaking technology that might improve how certain cancers are detected and treated. The science is sound, the potential is obvious, but the leap from lab to clinic seems insurmountable. This is where things often get complicated, particularly within an academic medical center like UC Davis Health, where the primary focus historically has been patient care rather than product innovation.
Enter UC Davis Health Ventures (HVO), a dedicated office born out of the Clinical Strategic Plan in 2023 and aligned with the To Boldly Go strategic plan of UC Davis. HVO bridges the gap between scientific and clinical research to deliver real-world impact for patients and the community. Now by connecting this researcher with product development teams, securing translational grant funding, and navigating intellectual property and regulatory hurdles, HVO will turn this project into reality. Then, imagine this innovation advancing toward clinical trials, bringing hope to patients and opening doors to improved financial sustainability at UC Davis Health.
This story highlights a broader reality: UC Davis Health and UC Davis overall have immense untapped potential to make these stories more commonplace, driven by the principle that innovation flourishes through exquisite collaboration with our campus and community partners.
The HVO Framework: Turning Potential into Progress
At its core, HVO is a platform designed to accelerate human health product innovation, support researchers on this journey, and bridge the gap between discovery and impact. Its mission is to identify, fund, and advance promising human health research projects while ensuring they align with the institution’s values of public service, education, and patient care.
The HVO model is unique because it blends collaboration, strategy, and industry-grade innovation processes within our entire UC Davis academic institution. By engaging with researchers, industry partners, and internal stakeholders, we’re not just commercializing individual technologies—we’re fostering an ecosystem that drives human health innovation at scale. This ecosystem, now housed within the UC Davis Innovation & Economic Development Office under George Baxter, supports projects at every stage, whether they’re early-stage concepts needing proof-of-concept funding or mature innovations ready to spin out into startups.
Here’s how it works, and we call it: Activate Fund, Develop, and Connect:
Activating Innovators: Health Ventures takes a proactive approach, engaging directly with researchers and clinicians where they are. We aim to inform and inspire their work, steering research toward commercial applications that can create real-world impact.
Funding Innovators: HVO leads a $25 million investment initiative, Investing in the Future of Medicine, to directly fuel research translation within the institution. This program not only supports groundbreaking human health research across the entire UC Davis campus but also enables funding for startups emerging from this research, as well as companies affiliated with UC Davis.
Developing Innovation: Through an industry-grade Health Venture Studio, HVO supports the development and de-risking of innovations longer within UC Davis. This ensures these innovations are better positioned to achieve greater clinical and financial impact.
Connecting Innovation: HVO collaborates with partners and resources, including the Technology Transfer Office, Venture Catalyst, Foundation & Corporate Engagement, and the new Aggie Square innovation district to strategically align UC Davis’s expanding human health product innovation portfolio with industry needs and key stakeholders, fostering stronger connections and outcomes.
The goal is to ensure every project we advance contributes to better health outcomes, expanded access to care, and a stronger economic foundation for our institution. It’s not just about launching new technologies or companies; it’s about creating an enduring innovation system that generates long-term clinical and financial impact.
Why It Matters: Beyond the Dollars and Data
Why does all this matter? Because successful and sustainable innovation is a discipline and a process. Every research breakthrough that moves through HVO represents a chance to save lives, ease suffering, and transform health care as we know it.
Take that cancer detection technology as an example. It’s not just an exciting idea on paper; it’s hope for patients and their families. And while the financial returns from such projects are important—fueling more research, supporting staff, and sustaining our academic mission—they’re not the only story. At the heart of it all is impact: and serving Tomorrow’s Health Care Today.
Your Role in the Innovation Ecosystem
This may surprise you about innovation—it’s best done in collaboration. The success of HVO isn’t just about the office; it’s about everyone who contributes to UC Davis Health’s vibrant research culture. And there’s a role for you!
Researchers: Got a bold idea? Reach out. HVO is here to guide you through the journey, from initial concepts to clinical impact. •
Clinicians and Staff: Your insights and support help create the foundation where innovation thrives.
A Vision for the Future
As UC Davis Health Ventures continues to grow, so does its impact. By fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration, we’re advancing research and rewriting what’s possible in health care.
Every idea we develop is another step toward a healthier, more equitable future. Whether you’re in the lab or the clinic, your work matters. And with HVO, your ideas can go further than ever before. Let’s keep the momentum going. Let’s keep turning potential into progress. Let’s keep improving health—together.
If you have questions or would like more information, please reach out to us at HS-Ventures@ucdavis.edu. Thank you for your support.
In health,
Donald Taylor, Ph.D., M.B.A., C.L.P. Chief Ventures Officer UC Davis Health Ventures Office of Innovation and Economic Development
