The MIT SUD Ventures Program: Entrepreneurship Training for Researchers in STEM and Beyond.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Public Health
• Entrepreneurship Education

Background:

• Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is a major US health challenge with inadequate commercial solutions.
• The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) seeks to improve SUD research translation into market-ready technologies.
• There is a need to foster entrepreneurship among SUD researchers and STEM professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the MIT SUD Ventures program, a NIDA-funded initiative.
• To train multidisciplinary teams in commercializing SUD-focused discoveries.
• To encourage startup creation for SUD prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Main Methods:

• Developed a program curriculum focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, and biomedical product development.
• Recruited and trained multidisciplinary teams of researchers, engineers, and management experts.
• Introduced government funding strategies for commercialization.

Main Results:

• Shared learner profiles, expectations, experiences, and outcomes.
• Demonstrated the program's effectiveness in preparing participants for startup creation.
• Highlighted the value of entrepreneurial skills for academic researchers.

Conclusions:

• Teaching entrepreneurial skills is crucial for bridging the gap between basic and translational research.
• STEM professionals are vital in developing commercial solutions for the SUD epidemic.
• The MIT SUD Ventures program serves as a model for fostering innovation in SUD research commercialization.