The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) has appointed Anthony Francis, a renowned leader in translating research to market opportunity, as associate vice president for innovation and development in the Office of the Vice President for Research.
He joins the institution from the University of California San Francisco, where he was executive director of the Office of Technology Management and Advancement. Francis is credited with transforming UCSF’s commercialization and partnering approach to become a “market first” process, substantially increasing equity and license revenue with year-on-year record levels of income and activity.
His primary role with UT Health San Antonio will be to foster entrepreneurialism and innovation in support of complex projects across various technical areas at the university. He will work with investigators, inventors and researchers to translate their innovations into commercial opportunities that will positively impact people’s lives and benefit the global community.
“His work has centered on more investment in startups, and more value on creation and research,” said Jennifer Potter, PhD, MPH, vice president for research at UT Health San Antonio. “By being renowned in this space, he will lead research and grant competitive advantage.”
A native of Australia, his leadership roles in commercialization there with industry, universities and consulting demonstrated his ability to attract and mobilize energies and talents to work toward a shared purpose in the best interests of organizations. Francis founded consulting company TCG Pty Ltd., later sold to Deloitte, and won national awards and recognition for his work in commercialization training. He also won national entrepreneurial educator awards and authored the ImPact commercialization system.