The Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization (CTTC) team is dedicated to driving innovation forward across VU and VUMC, partnering with multiple units within both organizations to accomplish that mission. Join us in recognizing our ecosystem partners and their hard work to support faculty's innovations.
Meet the Brock Family Center for Applied Innovation at Vanderbilt University Medical Center
The Brock Family Center for Applied Innovation supports investigators at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in advancing biomedical discoveries toward startup formation, commercialization, and external investment. The center provides strategic guidance, funding, and entrepreneur support to help researchers generate the data needed to demonstrate the commercial and clinical potential of their innovations. By supporting projects at critical early stages, the Brock Center helps de-risk technologies and prepare them for engagement with external partners (industry, investors, etc.). They also welcome outreach from biotech and health tech startup companies who are interested in partnering with VUMC to develop and validate their products in a real-world setting within a leading healthcare system.
Partnering to accelerate startup creation and investment readiness
The Brock Center and the Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization (CTTC) work closely together to help transform promising discoveries into industry- and venture-ready opportunities. The Brock Center supports investigators in developing and validating technologies, generating proof-of-concept data, and building the foundations needed for startup formation. CTTC complements these efforts by providing expertise in intellectual property protection, licensing strategy, and connections to entrepreneurs, venture capital, and industry partners. Together, the teams help position Vanderbilt innovations for startup launch, follow-on funding, and long-term commercial success.
“Our collaboration with CTTC is grounded in a shared commitment to advancing Vanderbilt’s most promising biomedical innovations. By coordinating translational development with commercialization expertise, we are strengthening the pathway from early discovery to investment and patient impact.” Ken Holroyd, holder of the Brock Family Directorship for Applied Innovation and VP for Tech Transfer at VUMC
Brock Center–CTTC Collaboration
Looking ahead, the Brock Center and CTTC are expanding their collaboration to identify and support high-potential technologies earlier in the development process and through the post-launch stage. This includes coordinating around translational project funding, strengthening pathways to startup formation, and increasing engagement with venture investors and experienced entrepreneurs. By aligning translational development with commercialization strategy from the outset, the partnership aims to increase technology commercialization successes and accelerate the creation of new companies built on Vanderbilt biomedical innovation.