Translation and Entrepreneurship in Biomedical Sciences Certificate

Harlyne J. Norris Cancer Research Tower
1450 Biggy Street, NRT 2508
Los Angeles, CA 90089-9601
(323) 865-1591
Fax: (323) 442-2490
Email: dtg@usc.edu
dtg.usc.edu
 

Program Director: Carol S. Lin, PhD, MAE

keck.usc.edu/translational-genomics/
dtg.usc.edu/education/translation_entrepreneurship

Keck School of Medicine Department of Translational Genomics offers a Graduate Certificate in Translation and Entrepreneurship in Biomedical Sciences (TEBS). This program combines a unique curriculum and distinctive practical training to enable students who already have advanced biosciences training to gain familiarity with drug and device development from the initial discovery process, e.g., translation; the regulatory framework; the processes involved in management of private and public capital to develop growing markets, and the economics, business, and law terminologies important in navigation of the commercialization process. 

Program Summary

The certificate program in TEBS is for students who wish to expand career options in the biotechnology or biomedical sciences industry, adding to their existing advanced graduate degree training.

Students in the program will gain an understanding of

• The role of scientific discovery in the development of new therapies
• The process of moving inventions from a university to a commercial entity and finally to the marketplace
• The regulatory environment that impacts novel therapies
• Investment in new discoveries, and the sources of capital needed to commercialize new treatments
• The legal processes that govern biomedical invention and translation to commercialization

The program is ideal for postdoctoral researchers, PhD students and clinician scientist scholars who

• Aspire toward an academic career with a strong translational component
• Seek to become entrepreneurs
• Seek a career in a start-up company in the life sciences
• Aspire towards a career in small to large pharma or biotech companies.

Or, for professionals in management, investment, regulatory affairs or law in the biotechnology industry with a strong background in the biomedical sciences and who wish to get a deeper understanding of the commercialization process and how it links to scientific discoveries.

Admission

Admissions requirements include a strong graduate preparation in biological sciences. Examples of this include appointment as a postdoctoral fellow with a PhD degree in a relevant topic, appointment as a clinician scientist as a faculty, resident or fellow with relevant basic science preparation, and/or acquisition of relevant course work in the PhD program consistent commensurate with that required for advancement to candidacy. 

Applicants must also supply a statement of purpose and two letters of recommendation from evaluators qualified to assess their potential for graduate level course work. Please visit the program Website for additional information on admission and application procedures.

Advisement

The program requires that students meet with an academic adviser of the program each semester prior to registration.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

A graduate GPA of at least 3.0 is required at all times. Any student whose graduate GPA falls below 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. Students on academic probation who do not raise their GPA to 3.0 after two semesters of written notification of academic probation will be academically disqualified.

A minimum of 14 units of course work from the TEBS curriculum is required for the completion of certificate program.