Commercialization Education
classroom workshop

Fast Forward Medical Innovation

We inspire and accelerate biomedical innovation, entrepreneurship, and commercialization by providing personalized education and training to life science innovators.

Are you an innovator with a groundbreaking idea, but unfamiliar with the product development and entrepreneurial concepts?

Whether you’re a clinician, researcher, trainee, or staff, Fast Forward Medical Innovation offers a broad spectrum of commercialization education & training opportunities.

You will receive valuable mentorship that provides a deep real-world understanding of strategy and tactics helping you gain valuable insight into successfully translating your research to market.

patient couple embracing and smiling
Spotlight On
Success with Fast Forward Medical Innovation

Learn how FFMI resources provided crucial guidance and support to two University of Michigan nurses who are helping develop a comprehensive certification for Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) clinicians. A VAD is a life-sustaining technology for severe heart failure patients. The first-of-its-kind VAD certification will be a comprehensive exam that goes beyond how to work the device, delving into the specific skills and expertise nurses need to best care for a VAD patient.

Enrollment Courses & Programs
Fast Forward Medical Innovation
faculty in classroom
fastPACE Course

Project-based course designed to help academics launch new innovations

- Audience: Faculty, staff, and trainees
- 4-5 weeks; Virtual

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aikens innovation audience
Frankel Cardiovascular Center Innovation Program

FFMI offers programs and courses in collaboration with the Frankel Cardiovascular Center
- Innovation Challenge
- Aikens Innovation Academy
- Design Thinking Workshops

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FFMI Nyati Rogel Innovation page
Rogel Cancer Center Innovation Program

Project-based consultations from experts in a variety of fields to address questions, needs, and resources

- Audience: Faculty, clinicians, and trainees
- Lecture series: 5, one-hour lectures; Virtual - weeks 1, 2, 4, and 5, Hybrid - week 3
- Project-based course: 4 months; Virtual

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FFMI- woman in lab
Global Health Commercialization Competition

Project-based course designed to help academics launch new innovations in emerging global markets

- Audience: Faculty
- 4-5 weeks over 2 months; Virtual

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instructor pointing at screen in classroom with students
Biotech Career Development Program

Provides career exposure to many aspects of biotechnology outside of the traditional academic tenure-track faculty position

- Audience: Trainees
- 8 months; Virtual

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FFMI fellowship
Fast Forward Medical Innovation Fellowship Program

Action-based training program that educates U-M doctoral students and postdocs on the business elements of commercializing biomedical technologies

- Audience: Doctoral students (second year minimum), U-M postdoctoral graduates interested in the intersection of business and life-science research for the purpose of technology commercialization
- 6-12 months, part-time

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FFMI biomed 101 course
Biomedical Innovation 101

A fully virtual, six-part webinar series to introduce the basic concepts of life science research commercialization and connect clinicians and research investigators with supportive resources

- Audience: Faculty, staff, trainees
- 6 weeks; Virtual

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education course participants writing notes
Certificate in Biomedical Innovation & Entrepreneurship

A certificate to prepare for careers in biotech startups and other entities related to biomedical innovation and entrepreneurship

- Audience: Predoctoral candidates and doctoral candidates from any of the UMMS degree-seeking programs
- In-person or virtual

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audience in educational classroom
Biomedical Innovation & Entrepreneurship I/II

A credit-bearing course intended for science and engineering majors seeking insight into the fundamentals of life science entrepreneurship

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FFMI-Lanham on computer
Innovation Studio

Project-based consultations from experts in a variety of fields to address questions, needs, and resources

- Audience: Faculty, staff, and trainees
- 1 hour; Virtual

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FFMI oncology course
Oncology Drug Discovery & Development (3D) Workshop

Day-long, experiential educational program that will simulate the oncology drug discovery process from idea to FDA review.

- Audience: Faculty, postdocs/trainees, graduate students, staff
- 1 day; In-person

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smiling participants in educational seminar
FFMI fastPACE Train-the-Trainer

Collaborative learning experience teaches program planners how to launch the FFMI fastPACe program at their home institutions

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Online Education
Fast Forward Medical Innovation
FFMI intellectual property faculty talking
Intellectual Property in the Academic Setting

Learn from the Fast Forward Medical Innovation and Innovation Partnerships teams about the importance of intellectual property in the commercialization of your innovation

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woman in lab with microscope
Drug Discovery and Development Course

A fully virtual, self-paced course that teaches the fundamentals of academic drug discovery

- Audience: Faculty, staff, and trainees
- Fully virtual, self-paced course
- Up to 20 hours of instruction

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FFMI-David Zopf
Medical Device Regulation

Learn from the Fast Forward Medical Innovation and Michigan Institute of Clinical & Health Research teams about the importance of FDA regulations on your medical device innovation

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FFMI woman on computer
Idea to Impact Webinar Series: The Translation & Commercialization of Academic Research

On-demand videos that focus on various concepts and considerations critical to research commercialization and technology development

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6 Tips for Customer Discovery

Former FFMI fastPACE students, Daniel Kessler and Mike Angstadt, give advice to current innovation & commercialization students about customer discovery.

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FFMI-BD Mike Ranella at event
Interacting with Industry

Meet the Fast Forward Medical Innovation Business Development Team to learn about topics surrounding industry interaction.

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woman pitching idea to three other people
“How-To” Series: The Pitch Presentation

Learn how to create a 5-minute pitch presentation for your biomedical innovation.

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two participants in a seminar discussing topics
“How-To” Series: Communicating the Value of Your Innovation

Learn how to craft a clear and compelling case for why your idea is important.

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Researcher on computer
Ask the Experts: A Biomedical Innovation Forum

A panel of life science investment experts provides insight on trends within the industry and reveals investment criteria considered when evaluating emerging technologies.

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Featured Video
Keep Watching

View our comprehensive collection of video resources regarding educational programs and training tailored for busy faculty, students, clinicians, and researchers.

Commercialization Education Playlist Fast Forward Medical Innovation
aerial photo of the medical school campus Commercialization Education
OUR IMPACT
2023 was another record-breaking year of biomedical innovation at the University of Michigan, and Fast Forward Medical Innovation is thrilled to be part of the rich ecosystem of innovation resources that contributed to this impressive accomplishment.
View Our 2023 Impact Report
165
U-M Medical School faculty, staff, and trainees participated in education programs in 2023
29
new innonvations from U-M Medical School projects teams in 2023
113
education programs serving biomedical innovators across U‑M, the state, region, and nation
$46M+
follow-on funding awarded to date for education program participants
Meet the Commercialization Education Team
FFMI-Jon Servoss headshot Jon Servoss, EdD
Director of Education
FFMI-Katherine Schultz headshot Katherine Schultz, MA
Commercialization Education Program Coordinator
FFMI-Ashley Schork Ashley Schork, MNM
Program Manager, FCVC Innovation Program
FFMI Prabhvir Marway fellowship Prabhvir Marway, MD
Innovation Fellow
Questions?
Upcoming Events
Gifts of Art Presents A Classic Tin Toy Collection from Dr. Ami Rosenthal
Classic Tin Toys from the collection of Dr. Amnon “Ami” Rosenthal
Event runs November 04, 2024 - June 04, 2025
Classic Tin Toys
Gifts of Art presents Common Thread: Mixed Media by Fiber Club*
Fiber Club* is a community of artists and creative practitioners in the Detroit metro area
Event runs December 16, 2024 - February 28, 2025
Fiber Club
Gifts of Art presents Red Leather Suitcase: Reflections of Hope by Lin Lu Daku
Lin Lu, a Chinese American artist and writer is celebrated for intertwining art, resilience, and healing in her creative work
Event runs December 16, 2024 - February 28, 2025
Lin Lu Daku
Gifts of Art presents Diversity: Jewelry by Debra Hoffmaster
Jewelry featuring unique gemstones and objects in fabricated settings
Event runs December 16, 2024 - February 28, 2025
Debra Hoffmaster
Gifts of Art presents Fragments of Identity: Mixed Media by Tylear Jefferson
Figurative paintings that showcase a range of emotions using bold color and dramatic lighting
Event runs December 16, 2024 - February 28, 2025
Tylear Jefferson
Gifts of Art presents Sculptural Paintings: Ceramics by Susanne Stephenson
Large expressive ceramics inspired from landscapes and traveling
Event runs December 16, 2024 - February 28, 2025
Susanne Stephenson
Gifts of Art presents Scenic Michigan: Acrylic Paintings by William Brody
Michigan paintings featuring many scenes from the artist's hometown of Holly
Event runs December 16, 2024 - February 28, 2025
William Brody
Gifts of Art presents Life in Small Moments: Mixed Media by Debo Groover
Large-scale paintings that capture moments in time and offer joy and levity
Event runs December 16, 2024 - February 28, 2025
Debo Groover
Gifts of Art presents Red Leather Suitcase: Reflections of Hope by Lin Lu Daku
Lin Lu, a Chinese American artist and writer is celebrated for intertwining art, resilience, and healing in her creative work
Event runs December 16, 2024 - February 28, 2025
Lin Lu Daku