The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) has appointed Anthony Francis as the associate vice president for innovation and development in the Office of the Vice President for Research. In his new role, Francis will focus on fostering entrepreneurialism and innovation across various technical areas at UT Health San Antonio.
Francis is a well-known leader in translating research into market opportunities. He came to UT Health San Antonio from the University of California San Francisco, where he served as the executive director of the Office of Technology Management and Advancement. At UCSF, Francis revamped the commercialization and partnering approach, resulting in significant increases in equity and license revenue.
In his new role, Francis will collaborate with investigators, inventors, and researchers to translate their innovations into commercial opportunities that will have a positive impact on people’s lives and benefit the global community. Jennifer Potter, the vice president for research at UT Health San Antonio, highlighted Francis’s past work in promoting investment in startups and enhancing the value of creation and research. She emphasized that his reputation in this field will give UT Health San Antonio a competitive advantage in research and grant opportunities.
Originally from Australia, Francis has a proven track record of leadership in commercialization. He has experience working with industry, universities, and consulting to mobilize resources towards a common goal. Francis founded a successful consulting company that was later acquired by Deloitte and received national recognition for his work in commercialization training. He also received awards for his contributions to entrepreneurial education and authored the ImPact commercialization system.
