Frank Urban

About Frank Urban

Experienced in various aspects of life science development; especially therapeutics…

Experience

1. Director, Venture Creation - Life Sciences

   Spartan Innovations

   Apr 2016 — Present

   Spartan Innovations (SI) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Michigan State University Foundation (~$500M AUM) and is co-located with and complements the work being done now by MSU Technologies, the university’s technology transfer office and Business-CONNECT, created in 2009 as MSU’s portal for engagement with the business community. SI, in part, creates new companies, based on MSU technologies, when appropriate. This involves generating the plan, people and funding that will make these companies successful. SI also assists with a number of various projects that help maintain a pipeline of technologies for future startups. SI is involved in the entrepreneurial ecosystems for East Lansing, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit (Henry Ford Health) and Traverse City. SI also assists Red Cedar Ventures and Michigan Rise perform scientific due diligence on potential investments. We work with collaborators such as the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP), GR Local Development Finance Authority (LDFA), BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting (BBCetc), eight major Michigan hospital systems and others.SI is on the move, setting up new programs and partnerships in support of MSU. Growing from myself and 6 part time contractors in 2017, to up to 10 full time employees and 18 part time contractors by the end of 2021. Supported companies received $250k in federal, state and local grant support in FYE2017, which was improved to nearly $13M in FYE2021 and over $9.5M in FYE 2022. In large part of SI’s efforts, the MSU Foundation was recognized by the Small Business Administration by receiving the coveted Tibbett’s award in 2020. In 2017, SI received in direct grant funding; but in fiscal years 2021 and 2022, led effort that raised over $3.5M in grant awards.

Education

• Eastern Michigan University

  CBA, Business Administration and Management, General

  2004 — 2007

• Concordia University Ann Arbor

  BA, Biology, General Science, Physical Science

  1994 — 1998

• Eastern Michigan University

  MS, Molecular Biology

  2000 — 2003

Skills

• Cell
• Chemistry
• Drug Discovery
• Clinical Trials
• Elisa
• Molecular Biology
• Microbiology
• Hardware Diagnostics
• Oncology
• Hplc
• Protein Chemistry
• Genetics
• Biotechnology
• Protein Purification
• Pharmaceutical Industry
• Sop
• Fda
• Clinical Development
• Neuroscience
• Western Blotting
• Vaccines
• Glp
• Flow Cytometry
• Regulatory Affairs
• Lifesciences
• Pcr
• Chromatography
• Cell Biology
• R&D
• Genomics
• Medical Devices
• Clinical Research
• Technology Transfer
• Biomarkers
• Biochemistry
• Infectious Diseases
• Pharmacology
• Cell Culture
• Bioinformatics
• Personalized Medicine