Harvard Business School has named its 2014-2015 Blavatnik Fellows in Life Science Entrepreneurship. These fellows are five outstanding HBS alumni who graduated from the School no more than seven years ago. The fellows will work with inventors from Harvard University’s research laboratories to promote the commercialization of innovative life science-oriented technologies.
The Blavatnik Fellowship Program, which admits three to seven exceptional individuals each year through a competitive application process, was created in 2013 as part of a $50 million gift to Harvard University from the Blavatnik Family Foundation. The Fellowship was the launch of a major initiative to expedite new ventures via the Blavatnik Biomedical Accelerator, which identifies and supports early-stage, highly promising technologies from Harvard University.
Blavatnik Fellows receive a $95,000 stipend for a twelve-month period, as well as additional funding for activities necessary for early enterprise formation. The Fellows work closely with inventors through Harvard University and Harvard University’s Office of Technology Development to determine the best route for the commercialization of a product.
The 2014-15 Blavatnik Fellows are Alexandra Dickson (MBA 2013), Christoph Jaeker (MBA 2011), Louis Levy (MBA 2014), Sid Misra (MBA 2013) and Meridith Unger (MBA 2010).
The Blavatnik Fellows Program is directed by Vicki Sato, PhD, former president of Vertex Pharmaceuticals and now professor of management practice at Harvard Business School.
Blavatnik Fellows will have opportunities to become part of the HBS and University communities. Formal and informal components of the program will provide education and interaction in a wide variety of areas, including strategy, R&D management, intellectual property, regulatory affairs, business development, and entrepreneurial financing.
Fellows will be encouraged to complete business plans and secure funding and where appropriate, to join and develop founding teams of new ventures.