October 18-20 | Tucson, AZ

The Research Institution GAP Fund and Accelerator Program Summit

THI Launches New Innovation Partnerships Program 

Get our GAP Insights Newsletter

Join Us

October 23-25, 2024 / Atlanta, GA

The annual summit for research institution gap fund and accelerator programs, including proof of concept programs, startup accelerators, and university venture funds

The Story

Texas Heart Institute’s new Innovation Partnerships program seeks to develop new medical technologies by facilitating THI partnerships with outside entities and launching spin-out companies from THI labs. In this spirit, THI worked closely with the Texas Medical Center’s TMC Innovation (TMCi) to provide mentorship and research services to healthcare startups from around the world.

THI personnel collaborated with participants in two TMCi programs, TMC Biodesign and the TMCx Accelerator program, to advance the development of cardiovascular-focused products.

These partnerships resulted in both preclinical and clinical research contracts with THI, maintaining THI’s position on the cutting edge of breakthroughs in patient care. As a result of THI’s mentorship, THI and TMCi jointly filed a patent on technology to be licensed to a startup that has already raised $500,000. Notably, this was the first time TMCi has filed for intellectual property in conjunction with another institution. THI was also an official sponsor of the Ignite Accelerator, a program focused on addressing gender parity in the healthcare industry.

As a customer sponsor, THI provided mentorship and feedback to a female-led health tech start-up, resulting in a pilot study with the Texas Heart Medical Group.

Allison Post, Ph.D., THI bioengineer and manager of the Innovation Partnerships program, also discussed THI’s innovation plans with the Houston InnovationMap podcaster Natalie Harms. Dr. Post’s Houston Innovators Podcast interview was selected by the editor as one of the top 7 she conducted in 2021. THI Innovation Partnerships will continue to build on this momentum in 2022.

Full story: THI Launches New Innovation Partnerships Program – The Texas Heart Institute