Courses
The following courses are offered to students interested in studying global health and emerging and neglected diseases:
Designing Strategies for Neglected Disease Research
Public Policy 290/Law 284
(3 units)
Instructors: Amy Kapczynski, School of Law; Stephen Mauer, School of Public Policy
Today, nearly ninety percent of the world's medical research and development (R&D) funds are allocated towards just ten percent of the world's disease burden. Global R&D is thus overwhelming allocated to the medical needs of those living in wealthy countries. Recently, for the first time, public attention and financial resources have begun to be directed at the rest, the so-called "neglected diseases" (e.g. malaria, dengue fever) that afflict the developing world. Even so, funds remain painfully limited. Success will require strategies that are careful, clear-eyed, and evidence-based. This course will introduce students to the neglected disease problem, review the various schemes that observers have proposed to promote R&D, and explore what the fields of law, economics, public policy, business, and public health have to say about each strategy's strengths and weaknesses.
Entrepreneurship in Biotechnology
Haas 295J / ENG 290J (2 units)
Instructor: Larry Lasky
This class is an introduction to the complexities and unique problems of entrepreneurship in the life sciences. Students will be exposed to the topics most critical to successfully founding, financing, and operating a life science company and will be expected to perform many of the tasks that founders would normally undertake.
The first classes will provide an overview of the industry based on current trends and those of the past 20 years as well as on how to recognize fundable opportunities (and how "good" opportunities have changed over time). The middle section of the course will focus on functional and operational issues facing small life science companies including obtaining financing, working with venture capitalists, bringing ideas to the clinic, intellectual property, and business development and strategic partnering. The final portion of the course will be oriented to the preparation and presentation of actual business plans. Well in advance of the projects' final due date, teams will be asked to provide a written executive summary and one or more oral presentations. These exercises will help teams understand the strengths and weaknesses of their new venture, and help them to prepare a more successful plan.
This class is appropriate for students who would like to start their own enterprise, and just as importantly, those who believe that they may someday work in a small life science-based company. In both cases, you will learn what drives the start up and on-going operations of these fascinating and exciting enterprises.
For updated information visit:
The Lester Center
Management of Technology Program
UCSF Courses
This quarter-long course will survey how new drugs are discovered and brought to the clinic. Expert industry speakers will address marketplace trends and implications for research planning in drug discovery.
In this course, students will develop their own project for a discovery opportunity, and present their plan to the class participants.
Spring Quarter 2009
Mission Bay Campus, Byers Hall 212
Wednesdays 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Designed for scientists and clinicians interested in entrepreneurship, this program advances the development of innovative ideas.
January 5 through March 16, 2009