When it comes to biopharmaceutical innovation, challenges in life-saving healthcare development and delivery are not obstacles, but opportunities. And, at the University of Delaware, a collaborative group of industry experts and academic thought leaders is working together to propel the positive changes that will break down barriers to push biopharmaceutical innovation even further.

“We have the right brains and the right infrastructure to really solve some fundamental challenges,” said Kris Vaddi, founder and president of Prelude Therapeutics, a Delaware-based biopharmaceutical company. “I certainly think there’s a real opportunity for UD to be at the cutting edge and transition ideas into more impactful industry.”

As one of 22 members on the UD Biopharmaceutical Innovation Advisory Board, Vaddi brings a unique perspective and background that mixes entrepreneurial thinking, science and business. His UD involvement started through mentorship with Horn Entrepreneurship; and UD even served as a launchpad for his venture. In early 2016, at the same time investors were encouraging Vaddi to start his own company, lab space became available on STAR Campus and he took advantage of the ideal location. Thanks to a strong start, Prelude Therapeutics quickly found success, outgrowing the space but keeping its startup mentality, even with its recent announcement that the company went public.

Working in biopharmaceuticals, Vaddi said he couldn’t be any more excited about his job—and the opportunity to create a real difference for people through healthcare innovation at UD. The board’s combined partnership of the academic community, industry and government helps open the door, agreed fellow board member Gail Wasserman, senior vice president of biopharmaceutical development at AstraZeneca, who has seen firsthand how pipeline development can impact innovation.

“Academics is the backbone of innovation,” Wasserman said. “If you can develop the talent and the baseline of people, then you can promote innovation in the industry.”

As someone who has found encouragement and success thanks to the mentorship of others throughout her career, Wasserman is eager to encourage the next generation of industry leaders at UD and understands the need to invest in workforce development to build a talent pipeline. With academic opportunities like UD’s emerging 4+1 master’s program in biopharmaceutical development/manufacturing, the University is breaking ahead of other institutions to lead the way.

“The board is focused on finding collaborative ways to move biopharmaceutical innovation at UD forward,” Wasserman said. “Through its success, and the insights of its leaders, the UD Biopharmaceutical Innovation Advisory Board will be a role model for other institutions, to encourage more collaborative thinking and, with it, change that has the power to shape industries and improve lives through incredible healthcare research and delivery.”