Thomas J Webster Welcome Message | ECBB 2025
Not in the right environment to innovate and commercialize your research ? MOVE ! I did and now my breakthroughs are in 30,000+ patients !
Without a doubt, recent advances in biotechnology and bioengineering have revolutionized our ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat infectious diseases over the past century. But, how did this occur ? Was your research part of these advancements ? Have we innovated and commercialized enough ? While some of these wonderful research advances have made it to the market helping real people, many have not. Are we doing enough to translate biotechnology and bioengineering research into real products ? Are companies not paying attention to this wonderful research ? Are Universities not doing enough to help you ? Is your research being licensed to larger companies to make products that help society? Are you starting new companies ? What about federal funding agencies ? Are they supporting your commercialization efforts ? And, most importantly, are you in the right environment to innovate and commercialize your research ?
Well in my own experience, above all else, it takes a supportive environment. We all have great ideas. But, it takes more than that. It takes a supportive community to translate lab research into commercial products. It takes determination and fortitude to see it through. You need to surround yourself with the right people – and if you are currently not around a supportive optimistic environment, leave ! Leave that negative, ultra-competitive University you are at - I did ! Leave that company that is stifling your advances. Start your own company ! Attend the right conferences, not those super competitive conferences where the same old people give the same old talks, and put your work down just to support their own !
I left a University I worked at for a decade 4 years ago and I found a truly supportive environment. Only then was I able to start numerous companies and commercialize my biotechnology and bioengineering research into medical devices now in over 30,000 patients with no failures, only success ! No infection ! No chronic inflammation ! No implant loosening ! No failures ! Period ! Once I found the right environment, everything else moved very quickly – including FDA approval and my biotechnology and bioengineering research advances in patients in just 4 years !
So, I encourage everyone to find that right environment. Attend the right conferences: ECBB-2025 at the heart of innovation and commercialization ! Meet the right people ! Be energized by optimistic people ! It will change your life once you make the commitment to surround yourself with positive people. I know, because I lived it.
I look forward to seeing everyone and sharing my story !
