Posted on June 11, 2004 at 11:42 a.m.
BIRMINGHAM, AL — William S. “Sandy” White, M.B.A., has been named chief executive officer (CEO) of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Research Foundation effective June 5. He succeeds acting director Lucy Hicks.
White comes to UAB from the Columbus Technology Council, where he was president of the non-profit organization created to assist the growth of high tech businesses in the Columbus, Ohio, region. He formerly was president and CEO of BioCache Pharmaceuticals Inc., an early-stage biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of biopharmaceuticals. Prior to that, he was president and business leader of Integrated Protein Technologies, a unit of Monsanto Co.
“The UAB Research Foundation is dedicated to helping our researchers take their discoveries from the laboratory to the marketplace, where they can be made available to the people who can benefit most from these advances,” said UAB President Carol Z. Garrison. “In addition to his extensive experience in the commercialization of research, Sandy White holds biology and pharmacy undergraduate degrees. He also has a strong record of community involvement that will serve both UAB and Birmingham well.
“Our mission at UAB is to apply the knowledge gained from academic and health care research for the intellectual, cultural, social and economic benefit of Birmingham and beyond. Great work is underway at UAB, and Sandy White is the prefect choice to help us carry it forward.”
The transfer of technology from the lab to the marketplace plays an important role in the future of the university and the area’s economy, Garrison said. Research funding has doubled every decade since the university’s founding in 1969. UAB has more than $470 million in research grants and contracts, up from $389 million a year ago. UAB continues to rank highly in NIH funding: 20th overall with five schools in the top 20.
Technology transfer not only enhances the public’s health and quality of life, it turns basic research into revenue and jobs. Since its founding in 1986, the UAB Research Foundation has created more than $20.7 million in royalty and license fees. It also holds stock in 29 spin-off companies. UAB’s high tech business incubator, the Office for the Advancement of Developing Industries, has helped start 88 businesses since its inception in 1986. OADI will report to White.
In addition, the Shelby Biomedical Research Building, due for completion in 2005, is expected to attract $100 million in new grants and create upwards of 1,400 new jobs.
“UAB is the most important economic development engine in the state,” said James P. Hayes Jr., president of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA) and search committee co-chair. “It is really hard to adequately explain the importance of UAB, not just in terms of jobs but also the intellectual contribution it makes to the state and the Southeast. Sandy will help tell the story about the products of genius that live at UAB. He will also help build new relationships with the business community.”
White said two factors convinced him that UAB was where he wanted to be. “The quality of the faculty and the research they do is internationally recognized, so they didn’t have to sell me on that,” White said. “What sold me was their vision, their real desire to continue the growth of the university and to become one of the top 10 research universities in the country. And, this is a vision shared by the community. Given everything that UAB has to offer, the location and the quality of life that’s available in Alabama, I say the university and the state are well positioned for success.”
White hit the ground running, spending his first day on the job representing UAB at the BIO 2004 Annual International Convention in San Francisco. Seventeen economic development organizations, universities and businesses represented the state during the three-day event. The Alabama contingent was organized by EDPA to increase awareness of opportunities in Alabama for life sciences and biotechnology companies, as well as provide Alabama companies and research institutions a chance to promote their assets to the 20,000 life science professionals expected to attend.
“We are committed to external attraction and internal growth,” White said. “Historically, a knowledge-based economy is developed around a university. We help make attracting technology-based companies to the city and state easier. An educated workforce and outstanding medical care helps attract all kinds of industry.”
White plans to expand the Research Foundation staff and increase faculty involvement in the technology transfer process. The number of licensing associates will expand from two to four, and a new position will be created for an experienced administrator.
“But the prime focus for me initially is to take the tech transfer to the next level and get faculty more involved,” White said. “Faculty, and the research they do, is the key.”
White earned his M.B.A. from Virginia Commonwealth University. He earned bachelor’s degrees in biology from the University of Virginia and a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the Medical College of Virginia. He has been a member of the boards of directors of several startup companies.
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