PHILADELPHIA–(May 4, 2010) – The University City Science Center has promoted Christopher J. Laing, MRCVS, Ph.D. toVice President, Science & Technology.
Dr. Laing oversees the Science Center’s Science and Technology Programs, including the Port business incubators and the QED Proof-of-Concept Program. He also provides direct R&D strategy support to Science Center Port business incubator companies and facilitates their access to Greater Philadelphia’s academic and clinical communities through the Science Center’s Scientific Advisory Committee for the Board of Directors.
Dr. Laing began working with the Science Center as a consultant in 2004 and joined the staff as Director of Science & Technology in 2006. He has helped numerous Science Center business clients turn their academic research into thriving businesses. Dr. Laing provides guidance in early business and product development planning, in securing the resources required to retire early technology risks, and in providing a technical communication stream that includes publications, marketing, and applications to federal agencies including NIH, NSF, and FDA.
Dr. Laing has helped raise more than $20 million in equity-sparing federal funding to directly support product development by small technology companies. His expertise includes experience in the commercial development of a wide range of technologies, including drugs and biologicals, medical devices, diagnostics, and research tools.
“Dr. Laing been instrumental in leading all of our programs that assist entrepreneurs and our academic community in technology commercialization,” says Science Center President & CEO Stephen S. Tang, Ph.D. “These include the operation of our Port incubators, SBIR/STTR preparation through Pennsylvania’s Innovation Partnership and programs that connect ideas, people, advice and funding – especially founding the QED Program, the nation’s first multi- institutional proof-of-concept program.”
Dr. Laing has a Ph.D. in molecular endocrinology, and completed his post-doctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine. He is a Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in the United Kingdom.
About the Science Center
The University City Science Center accelerates technology commercialization, regional economic development, and the market availability of life-enhancing scientific breakthroughs by bringing together innovations, scientists, entrepreneurs, funding, laboratory facilities, and business services. Established in 1963 and headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, the Science Center was the first, and remains the largest, urban research park in the United States. Graduate organizations and current residents of the University City Science Center’s Port business incubators have created more than 15,000 jobs that remain in the Greater Philadelphia region today and contribute more than $9 billion to the regional economy annually. For more information about the Science Center, go to www.sciencecenter.org.
