University of St. Thomas Houston joins 22 universities across the nation to bring NASA-proven technologies into the classroom through the Technology Transfer University (T2U) program.

NASA’s T2U program connects universities with NASA-developed technology to give students the opportunity to work with federal government research and technology.

Dr. Leonard Yowell, Deputy Technology Transfer Officer at the NASA Johnson Space Center and UST’s liaison with NASA’s T2U program, said, “We are pleased to work with the University of St. Thomas and the MCTM program as part of NASA’s Technology Transfer University program. In addition to providing excellent learning opportunities to the students, NASA and the public benefit by having these bright and experienced future leaders assess the commercialization potential of technologies in NASA’s patent portfolio.”

University of St. Thomas Houston is one of three universities in Texas that have partnered with NASA’s T2U along with Texas A&M and Texas Tech Rio Grande University.

NASA T2U Program Beneficial to Entrepreneurial Students in UST MCTM Program

“The NASA T2U Program is beneficial to entrepreneurial students, especially in UST’s Master in Clinical Translation Management (MCTM) Program,” Dr. Beena George, UST’s Chief Innovation Officer, said. “Students who are looking to start a new company or gain a competitive edge in the medical innovation technologies marketplace can put NASA technology to work for themselves and others.”

Established in 2014, UST’s MCTM program has been ranked #2 of the top 10 Clinical Research Degree Programs in the nation by Intelligent.com. The one-year, online MCTM program prepares employees and entrepreneurs in the ever-changing medical technologies innovation realm. Students can fast-track through a rigorous curriculum to provide a robust understanding of the biotechnology industry as well as the business, marketing and regulatory skills necessary for a career in this field.

MCTM student Greg Lyons said, "The MCTM program affords us invaluable course content involving market entry and feasibility, funding strategy, regulatory strategy, intellectual property, and all the nuances that accompany the commercialization and development pathways for products. With the access to cutting-edge projects through the NASA T2U program and the opportunity to work with professionals at NASA, we are able to apply what we have learned to a business plan with the possibility of bringing a chosen innovation to market. It is a remarkable opportunity!"