Commercialization of Vital-Dent

Juan M Taboas, PhD | Associate Professor, University of Pittsburgh

How did you get into/ what drew you to this field/ role?

I feel children are under-served in regenerative medicine. This is likely because the regulatory burden is often higher while market size smaller for pediatric devices and therapies than for adult. Yet, children stand to benefit the most from regenerative medicine because the sequalae of injury and disease are lifelong. Therefore, my laboratory has been developing hydrogel platform technologies for skeletal and craniofacial regeneration with attention to children’s needs, where continued growth is critical in wounds compromised by large injury and infection.

What excites you about your work?

The science and impact for kids are the rewarding aspects of our work. It is stimulating to work on biology and regenerative therapies for pediatric indications because children require tissues that grow. This introduces significant complexity compared to regenerative approaches for adults. The prospect of actually helping people with our work is exciting. This provides the motivation to undertake the difficult road of translation.

What advice would you give to those who are considering getting involved in translational research/ product development?

Don’t waste others’ time and money. Failure of your startup or licensed tech is not necessarily a reflection on the efficacy of your technology or entrepreneurial acumen. But only pursue what you believe works, what you would use yourself or give to your kid. Going through the motions to get entrepreneurial street cred, lines on your resume, or financial benefit is ultimately a sellout. Given 75% of medical device startups fail, choose the translation path that best assures commercialization and clinical adoption rather than personal profit.

If you weren’t in your current career, what other profession would you like to try?

I would like to be an elementary school teacher and pop kids’ minds with cool rhetorical science questions delivered The Matrix style. It would also improve my grammar.