Industry-Ready Webinar Series
Fast Forward Medical Innovation
We offer a webinar series focused on engaging with industry partners.
The Industry-Ready webinar series provides faculty and staff with practical guidance on how to effectively engage with industry partners.
Through sessions led by experienced faculty, industry professionals, and university experts, participants will learn how collaborations are structured, what industry looks for in academic partners, and how to navigate agreement types, intellectual property, and institutional resources.
The series aims to help learners identify appropriate pathways for collaboration and build confidence in pursuing well-structured, productive academic–industry partnerships.
Designed as a flexible, stand-alone learning experience, participants are welcome to join any session of interest, regardless of prior attendance. Additional programming is in development, with interactive webinars planned for the fall.
Scroll down to see descriptions and registrations for each upcoming webinar.
Are You Industry Ready? Introduction to Working with Industry
View Recording (UMICH login required)
Are You Industry Ready? Introduction to Working with Industry introduces faculty and staff to the landscape of academic–industry collaboration and what it means to be prepared to engage effectively with external partners. The session features a panel of experienced faculty who will share practical insights from their own collaborations, including fee-for-service work, sponsored research, consulting agreements, and industry-sponsored training and educational events. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of collaboration pathways, common considerations, and how to position their expertise for productive industry partnerships.
Objectives:
- Identify common types of industry engagement mechanisms.
- Understand how faculty have successfully structured and navigated collaborations with industry.
- Evaluate which type of engagement model may be most appropriate.
Randy Seeley, Ph.D.
Professor of Surgery
Professor of Internal Medicine
Medical School and Professor of Nutritional Sciences
School of Public Health
Sami Barmada, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Neurology
Medical School
Sara Pasquali, M.D., M.H.S
Professor of Pediatrics and Service Chief
Medical School
Arjun Mohan, MBBS
Medical School
Michael Deeb, M.D. (pre-recording)
Medical School
Neeraj Kaplish, M.B.B.S
Sleep Labs and Clinics
UMMG
Medical School
Industry Insight to Academic Partnerships
Monday, June 1
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Register
Industry Insight to Academic Partnerships features a panel of 2-3 industry professionals who will share perspectives on how companies approach collaborations with academic partners. Participants will gain insight into what industry values in academic relationships, how partnerships are evaluated, and practical considerations for building strong, effective collaborations.
Objectives:
- Understand how industry identifies an evaluates academic partners.
- Identify best practices for engaging with industry partners.
- Recognize industry priorities and decision-making considerations.
David Lough, Ph.D
Chiesi USA, Inc.
Doug Schantz
AskBio
The U-M Ecosystem for Industry Partnerships
Tuesday, June 9
12:00 pm - 1:00pm
Register
The U-M Ecosystem for Industry Partnerships introduces the key offices across the University of Michigan that support academic–industry projects and related agreements. Through a panel discussion with representatives from across campus, participants will learn where to go for guidance on topics such as contracting pathways, intellectual property, patent filing, licensing, and other processes involved in working with industry. The session is designed to help faculty and staff efficiently navigate institutional resources to move collaborations forward.
Objectives:
- Identify the key UM offices involved in supporting academic-industry projects.
- Understand the role each office plays in the lifecycle of an industry collaboration.
- Determine where to go for specific needs.
Hilary Bond, J.D., M.Sc.
Strategic Contracting
Corporate and Foundation Research Alliances
Innovation Partnerships
Emily Bowers, Ph.D.
Strategic Contracting
Corporate and Foundation Research Alliances
Innovation Partnerships
Emily Baxter, J.D
Contracts
Office of Research and Sponsored Projects
Sheryl Flanagan, Ph.D.
Data Protection
Data Office for Clinical and Translational Research
Mathew Innes, M.B.A.
Oncology Clinical Trials Support Unit (O-CTSU), Rogel Cancer Center
Katherine Pollard M.B.A.
Medical Devices
Innovation Partnerships
Alexandra Srnka
Corporate and Foundation Research Alliances
Innovation Partnerships
Agreement Types and When to Use Them
Thursday, July 9
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Register
Agreement Types and When to Use Them provides a practical overview of the most common agreement structures used in academic–industry collaborations. Led by the FFMI Business Development team, this session will walk through key agreement types—including sponsored research, fee-for-service, consulting, clinical trials, education, and industry-sponsored training events—and illustrate when each is most appropriate through real-world case studies. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of how to align project goals with the right agreement pathway to support efficient and well-structured industry engagement.
Objectives:
- Identify different types of agreements.
- Understand appropriate use cases for each agreement type.
- Apply practical examples from case studies.
Michael Ranella, M.P.H., M.B.A.
Senior Director
Business Development
Fast Forward Medical Innovation
Ingrid Qemo, Ph.D., M.B.A.
Business Development
Fast Forward Medical Innovation
Emilija Mitrikeska, M.D.
Business Development
Fast Forward Medical Innovation
Stephanie Steltzer, Ph.D.
Business Development
Fast Forward Medical Innovation
IP, Data, and Publications in Industry-Sponsored Research
Tuesday, July 21
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Register
IP, Data, and Publications in Industry-Sponsored Research explores the key considerations around intellectual property, data management, and publication rights in industry collaborations. This session features experts from Innovation Partnerships’ Corporate and Foundation Research Alliances, who will discuss IP in industry contracts, and the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects, who will cover data use, sharing, and publication expectations. Participants will gain practical guidance on navigating these critical aspects to ensure collaborations are structured effectively and compliant with institutional policies.
Objectives:
- Understand key intellectual property considerations in industry-sponsored agreements.
- Recognize best practices for managing data in industry collaborations.
- Identify typical publication expectations and restrictions in industry-sponsored research.
Hilary Bond, J.D., M.Sc.
Strategic Contracting
Corporate and Foundation Research Alliances
Innovation Partnerships
Emily Bowers, Ph.D.
Strategic Contracting
Corporate and Foundation Research Alliances
Innovation Partnerships
Kevin Wleklinski, J.D.
Sponsored Contracts
Office of Research and Sponsored Projects
Questions?
Contact Us
Fast Forward Medical Innovation
University of Michigan Medical School
Ann Arbor, Michigan
