Locations:
SearchIn the Cleveland Clinic Innovations profile series, members of the Innovations team share their journey to joining the Innovations department at Cleveland Clinic, what they find inspiring about their role and advice for potential inventors.
In this profile, Saqib Sachani, PhD, MBA, Associate Director, Business Development and Licensing, discusses what he finds inspiring about his role, technologies he’s excited about, trends he sees in the healthcare space, and shares advice for those who are interested in inventing.
Q: Please tell us about your role within Cleveland Clinic Innovations. What does your day-to-day look like?
A: My day-to-day role involves having conversations with industry and companies, discussing their interests and focus areas, and discussing how we can complement that with solutions developed at Cleveland Clinic. I try to envision how our research output would look as products that can have an impact on patients and solve real-world problems. This is in terms of an external focus. Internally, I try to focus on what our assets and technologies are, where they are coming from, and the next key experiments, along with how we can position them to be strong technologies and products that we can partner around with the industry.
I am the facilitator and translator of scientific discoveries into products through our partners, which includes life sciences companies, biotech, biopharma, startups, entrepreneurs contract research organizations – anybody who’s working in the life sciences space. We look to see how we can move those findings outside the laboratory into broader society.
Q: What attracted you to Cleveland Clinic?
A: The core values of Cleveland Clinic are very personal to me, and they resonate very well with me.
Cleveland Clinic’s emphasis on putting patients first resonated with my own professional philosophy, as I believe in the fundamental importance of prioritizing the well-being and needs of individuals. The commitment to collaboration and teamwork also appealed to me, aligning with my role as a translator working to bridge communication gaps between academic and industry scientists. Cleveland Clinic’s dedication to innovation and continuous improvement mirrors my passion for advancing biomedical research and finding novel solutions. Overall, the shared values of patient-centered care, collaboration, and innovation were pivotal factors that brought me here, as they align closely with my personal and professional values.
Q: What first made you interested in working in Innovations?
A: My interest in working in Innovations was initially sparked by a profound fascination with the dynamic intersection of scientific discovery and its practical applications. As a scientist by training with my PhD and post-doctoral work, I have always been on the side of witnessing cutting-edge discoveries. Witnessing the transformative potential of cutting-edge research and its ability to address real-world challenges motivated me to delve into a role where I could actively contribute to translating innovative ideas into tangible solutions.
The prospect of being part of a process that takes groundbreaking concepts from the laboratory and propels them toward meaningful applications, whether in healthcare or other sectors, was particularly appealing. The inherent excitement in exploring novel solutions and the potential to make a lasting impact on various industries fueled my passion for working in Innovations.
Moreover, the fast-paced and ever-evolving nature of the field presented a constant learning opportunity, allowing me to stay abreast of the latest advancements and collaborate with diverse experts. Overall, the prospect of being at the forefront of innovation, bridging the gap between research and application, has driven my interest in working in Innovations.
Q: What do you find most inspiring about your job?
A: What I find most inspiring about my job is the opportunity to witness the transformative journey of scientific discoveries from the laboratory to real-world applications. Being at the forefront of biomedical research, I engage with brilliant minds working on fundamental aspects of life sciences, therapeutics and diagnostics. The sheer potential for these discoveries to evolve into therapies that could positively impact lives is incredibly motivating.
As a translator between science and business, I enjoy breaking down communication barriers between academic and industry scientists. Facilitating collaboration and finding synergies between diverse stakeholders in the life sciences arena is also intellectually stimulating and promises to expedite the development of innovative solutions.
Moreover, the constant exposure to a wide range of research initiatives and the chance to contribute to a process that may ultimately lead to groundbreaking therapies creates a sense of purpose in my work. Witnessing the impact of collaborative efforts in advancing healthcare and overcoming challenges is undoubtedly the most inspiring aspect of my job.
Q: What does innovation mean to you?
A: In a more personal sense, innovation embodies the spirit of curiosity, creativity, and a relentless pursuit of improvement. It’s about challenging the status quo, exploring uncharted territories, and pushing the boundaries of what is known or possible. Innovation, to me, is a dynamic process that involves embracing change, learning from failures, and adapting in the quest for better solutions. It also represents a mindset – an openness to new ideas, a willingness to take calculated risks, and a commitment to continuous learning. It’s about finding joy in the discovery process and contributing, in whatever capacity, to the collective progress of knowledge and improvement.
Innovation is a deeply ingrained part of my professional and personal growth approach – a guiding principle that encourages exploration, adaptation, and the pursuit of excellence in every endeavor.
Q: Are there particular technologies or areas that you’re excited about?
A: One area of focus and excitement for me right now within Innovations is our infectious disease portfolio. There are novel vaccines developed in our labs and a lot of infectious disease work is happening at the Florida Research & Innovation Center (FRIC) that I’m supporting as well. The labs of Michaela Gack, PhD, Ted Ross, PhD, and Jae Jung, PhD are doing cutting-edge work and I’m excited about the potential impact. There’s also a flu vaccine clinical trial happening from some of the work that Dr. Ross has done. This is exciting on the therapeutic side. And on the diagnostic side, I’m supporting the portfolio for Stanley Hazen, MD, PhD. Dr. Hazen has been incredible in researching cardiovascular disease biomarkers and their associated risks. I am excited about this work being developed into diagnostic tests and benefiting patients.
In addition, I am very excited about our growing research tools portfolio that we are partnering with industry around – this has the potential to have a wider impact by allowing tools developed at Cleveland Clinic to enable other researchers outside of Cleveland Clinic to advance their research.
These are just some projects I think can make an impact and difference.
Q: Are there any current trends you’re seeing in the healthcare and tech transfer space?
A: I’m seeing several partnerships and deals happening around data and generative AI in the tech transfer space. This is more on the digital side, but on the therapeutics and drug development side, I think precision medicine is something companies are very interested in. This includes tailoring treatments based on a patient’s genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. I believe we’ll see this focus growing over time. There are many cancer immunotherapy advancements and other immunological approaches. CRISPR and gene-editing advancements in gene-editing technologies with potential applications in treating genetic disorders. There are a lot of advancements happening in that space, with the invention of mRNA vaccines that allow for the potential ability of RNA-based therapies. That field is going to grow significantly over time, and we are well positioned at Cleveland Clinic because we have projects and programs in all these spaces that will put us at the forefront of cutting-edge innovation over the next decade.
Q: What advice would you give to someone interested in inventing who may be intimidated by the process?
A: Embarking on the invention process can indeed be intimidating, but here are some pieces of advice I have to help ease the journey for someone interested:
Remember that inventing is a journey. Every step, whether successful or challenging, contributes to your growth as an inventor. Don’t be afraid to take that first step and embrace the excitement and learning that come with the creative process.
