Abstract: A publication is the principal output and measure of impact of work performed by engineers and scientists who work in universities. Scholarly publications frequently describe a discovery, invention, or novel method. In some instances, the positive impact of scholarly work on society can be greatly increased by translating the discovery, invention, or method into a product that is deployed on a scale that is much larger than is typical for a scholarly publication. This is especially important in biomedical research and engineering because of the potential for research to improve human health. In this lecture, I will describe three approaches that are effective for translating research into products that improve human health: a needs-driven approach, a technology-driven approach, and an open-source approach. I will use examples from my work to illustrate these approaches and make observations that apply more generally. My goal is to share insights that will help those who are interested in technology translation be successful in their endeavors.
Bio: Scott Delp, Ph.D., is the James H. Clark Professor of Bioengineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Orthopaedic Surgery at Stanford University. He is the Founding Chairman of the Department of Bioengineering at Stanford and Director of the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance, which aims to transform human health through the science of peak performance. Scott is also the Director of the RESTORE Center, a NIH national center focused on measuring real world rehabilitation outcomes and Director of the Mobilize Center, a NIH National Center of Excellence focused on Big Data and Digitial Health. Scott’s laboratory develops technologies to advance movement science and human health. Software tools created in his lab, including OpenSim and Simtk.org, have become the basis of an international collaboration involving thousands of scientists who exchange simulations of human movement. He has published over 250 research articles and has recently released a book from MIT Press entitled Biomechanics of Movement: The Science of Sports, Robotics, and Rehabilitation. Professor Delp has co-founded six health technology companies and is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering./p>
