February 26, 2001
Contact: Amy DiCresce, (313) 577-1429, adicresc@med.wayne.edu

WSU School of Medicine appoints director of biotechnology development

Joan Dunbar, PhD, has been appointed director of biotechnology development at the Wayne State University School of Medicine. In this newly created position, she brings an added dimension to the school’s current research programs. Her role is to promote translational research and the development of biomedical technologies with emphasis on academic-industry partnerships. Specifically she will be the school’s scientific liaison, linking academic researchers with industry for collaborative ventures. She will also interface with the WSU Technology Transfer Office to promote commercialization of technologies.

“We need to be able to capitalize on the technologies that are developed in the course of the basic science and clinical research of our faculty,” said Dr. Dunbar. “The pathways we pursue can take a variety of guises, from collaborative ‘discovery’ to licensing and start-up ventures.” Basic researchers and entrepreneurs, however, often do not “speak the same language.” As a business minded scientist, Dr Dunbar can help bridge that gap.

Dr. Dunbar earned her doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Sydney, Australia, followed by postdoctoral fellowships at the Carlsberg Laboratory, Copenhagen, Denmark, and the University of California, Irvine. She is also a former faculty member of the School of Medicine, having served in the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics and the Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics for more than eight years.

“We have research here at Wayne State which is ripe for technology development,” said Dr. Dunbar. “With statewide initiatives like the Michigan Life Sciences Corridor and the translational research programs sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and other federal agencies, Wayne State has to be competitive in attracting this funding and positioning itself as a significant player in technology development.”

“The goal is to facilitate inter-institutional collaboration and interdisciplinary scientific projects,” said Thomas Uhde, MD, associate dean for research. “Dr. Dunbar’s experience and credentials make her exceptionally qualified to lead this effort for the Wayne State University School of Medicine.