10 Years
WORLDiscoveries® was formed in 2008 by Western University, Robarts Research Institute, and Lawson Health Research Institute, seeking to dramatically increase its return on investment to the researchers and the community through licensing and the creation of spin-off companies.
10 years later, WORLDiscoveries has become a leading commercialization centre in Canada and a significant contributor to the growing number of partnerships between academics and commerce, research and business, institutions and community.
WORLDiscoveries continues to work with an impressive team of private and public sector collaborators both locally and internationally who are committed to the timely transfer of innovative research products and services to the community for the benefit of all.
Quick Facts for 2018 Fiscal Year
61 patents issued
35 active spin-off companies
33 license agreements
$374 thousand in commercialization grants
$4.2 million in revenue
50 disclosures
159 active licenses
$2.8 million distributed to researchers
Stories
Point me in the direction of better surgical care
Surgeons often have their hands full during surgery – quite literally – while they manipulate surgical instruments...
Rising to the occasion
Hugo de Lasa is no stranger to the commercialization and licensing of technologies...
Creating methods to understand autoimmunity
Dr. Anthony Jevnikar, a Lawson Health Research Institute scientist and Professor...
A plan for growth
From the beginning, the Western Medical Innovation Fellowship had big plans, to steadily grow into a leading program...
Top 10 Successes
As WORLDiscoveries® turns 10, we look back at our top 10 successes over the years, with highlights from fiscal year 2018...
Western Entrepreneurship
As one of the pillars of Western Entrepreneurship, WORLDiscoveries® has helped with the initiative...
Graduate Student Innovation Scholars
A program that promotes and champions skills development for graduate students, Western’s Graduate Student...
Proteus innovation competition
Going into its third year, the Proteus Innovation Competition saw 40 registered teams, comprised of 89 individuals...
The Rewards of Innovation
As the technology transfer and business development office for Western University, Robarts Research Institute and Lawson Health Research Institute...
Innovator of the Year
A simple yet functional device is making all the difference for those who have suffered traumatic incidents from car crashes to strokes...
WORLDiscoveries Asia
The team at WORLDiscoveries Asia has had a year full of accomplishments all while strengthening the connections between...
Awarded Western Innovation Funds
Supported by the office of the Vice-President (Research), the Western Innovation Fund (WIF) awards...
An Eye On: LifeLike BioTissue
Founded in 2009 by Leonard Millon, PhD, LifeLike BioTissue Inc. provides a wide selection of products developed to mimic the...
Our Team
Executive Director
Lisa Cechetto
Executive Director
Asia Operations
Ling Ting
Director
Amy Dang
Project Coordinator
Betsy Kuai
Administration Manager
Alex Yang
Business Development Director
Frank Cui
Project Manager
Carle Tse
Business Development Officer
Engineering and Natural Sciences (ENS) & Social Innovation
Patrick Therrien
Senior Business Development Manager
Noshin Hashim
Business Development Officer
Life Sciences
Souzan Armstrong
Director, Business Development
Kirk Brown
Senior Business Development Manager
Tyler Lougheed
Business Development Manager
Patricia Pan
Business Development Manager
Saqib Sachani
Business Development Officer
Support Services
Nadine Weedmark
Manager, Intellectual Property & Admin
Jan Payne
Patent and Market Analyst
Thurman Sawyer
Agreements Advisor
Lori Lariviere
Program Coordinator
Bev Bailey
Administrative Officer
Andrea Pavez
Administrative Assistant
Jordan Flemming
Digital Marketing Manager
Board of Directors
John Capone, Chair
Western University
David Hill
Lawson Health Research Institute
Mike Irwin
3M
Peter Johnson
Dwayne Martins
Western University
Marilyn Sinclair
TechAlliance
Alex Weiner
HomeVerified Inc.