University of Pittsburgh Names Marc Malandro Associate Vice Chancellor for Technology Management and Commercialization

PITTSBURGH-University of Pittsburgh Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor James V. Maher and Senior Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences and Dean of the School of Medicine Arthur S. Levine have named Marc Malandro of Pitt's Office of Technology Management (OTM) the associate vice chancellor for technology management and commercialization, effective Oct. 9, 2006.

"Marc Malandro has strengthened our University's technology transfer connections, both internally and externally, since joining our Office of Technology Management two years ago," said Pitt Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg. "He is widely recognized for his ability to proactively and aggressively turn innovation into commercialization, one idea at a time. I am confident that, in his new position, Dr. Malandro will further enhance the University of Pittsburgh's already significant contributions to the region's economy through our tech transfer activities."

Maher said, "This new title better reflects the strategic role of Dr. Malandro's responsibilities regarding the University's technology management and transfer efforts, including the direction of the OTM and the Office of Enterprise Development, Health Sciences (OED). It also indicates the deep appreciation that the University, in general, and Dr. Levine and I, in particular, hold for his dedication and professionalism."

Malandro has been serving as the director of OTM since spring 2005; before that, he served as a technology licensing manager for OTM. The OTM works with Pitt faculty, students, and staff on all aspects of the commercialization process, from protecting potentially commercial ideas through the patenting process to soliciting licensing contracts and creation of spinoff companies. OTM recently has focused its efforts on educating Pitt faculty about the process of commercialization and encouraging faculty in all disciplines to think of commercial applications for their discoveries.

OED is a service of the Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor, Health Sciences, and is a resource for health sciences faculty pursuing entrepreneurship and interactions with industry. It is a central link that brings Pitt's world-class researchers together with the life sciences business community.

Levine commended Malandro, saying that "he has consistently demonstrated the talent and judgment needed to enable the University to meet its mission of serving the faculty, staff, students, and administration, as well as the public, by facilitating the development of products from University technology for the benefit of the University and general community."

Malandro earned the Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Florida College of Medicine and completed his postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Human Molecular Genetics at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to joining the University of Pittsburgh, he cofounded Sagres Discovery, a functional biology company focused on the understanding of the molecular basis of cancer. His responsibilities as vice president of technology and strategic alliances for Sagres Discovery included managing company intellectual property, technology licensing, and overseeing scientific collaborations.

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11/2/06/scl