Vanderbilt University officials are sharpening their focus on turning research produced off West End Avenue into viable real-world technologies.

Alan Bentley, a former Cleveland Clinic Foundation executive who came to Vanderbilt as an assistant vice chancellor earlier this year, has been given additional resources to drive what is now called The Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization.

In a statement, the office said that its team will soon comprise nine licensing professionals (up from four in June), again have a dedicated communications coordinator and have its first director of licensing. 

“As the Vanderbilt research engine expands, the breadth of our expertise and capabilities will allow us to keep pace and meet demand for commercialization support,” Bentley said. “We have expanded substantially over the past few months, creating an excellent mix of talented, experienced licensing professionals with a broad array of science, business and legal backgrounds.”

The CTTC also has launched a new website and begun publishing an e-newsletter for Vanderbilt researchers and others interested in technology transfer. In addition, Bentley is forming a faculty advisory committee to “provide direction and customer perspective in the commercialization process.”