Despite extraordinary advances in infectious disease research, too many life-saving innovations remain stuck in the lab, unable to reach the people who need them most. Global health challenges demand not just technical breakthroughs but also practical, scalable solutions. So why does the translation from academic research to real-world impact remain so difficult? Dr Richard Wall recently joined a panel discussion alongside leading experts in access, infectious diseases, diagnostics and research strategy to explore this very issue at the Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS). 

I recently attended the event, “Bridging Academia, Industry & Investment to Drive Global Health Innovation”(3rd April), which discussed some of the persistent systemic and practical barriers to translating academic research into real-world impact. Being new to the world of commercialisation, this event gave me the opportunity to reflect on both the challenges and emerging solutions in the global health innovation space.

Barriers beyond the bench 

While funding constraints and regulatory hurdles are often cited as key challenges, the panels agreed that the biggest barrier is often the lack of a clear pathway from discovery to deployment. Research excellence alone is not enough; new tools must be affordable, sustainable and logistically feasible in low-resource settings. Many early-stage academic projects often exist in a pre-commercial "valley of death": too early for venture capital or commercial interest, but too applied to attract traditional academic funding. Without dedicated structures to support these transitions, many exciting ideas simply fade out. One key theme from the discussion was the essential role of collaboration between academia, industry and government. It’s become clear that no single sector can address these complex challenges in global health alone. To make a genuine impact, partnerships, whether with pharmaceutical companies, product development partnerships, or larger consortia, are not optional; they are essential.

The Role of the SIGHT programme

This need to bridge the commercialisation gap is precisely what motivated the creation of the Sustainable Innovation in Global Health Technologies (SIGHT) programme. Developed as a collaboration between LSHTM, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) and BSMS, SIGHT aims to support academics in developing pre-patent technologies with real-world impact. It was established in response to recommendations from the recent “Independent Review of University Spin-out Companies”, a review that made a strong case for pooled resources and innovation-friendly policies across the higher education sector. LSHTM is committed to fully aligning with these recommendations to adopt best practices and increase the number of successful spinouts.

At the heart of SIGHT is the aim to accelerate the process of converting global health research findings into scalable, commercially viable products. As part of this, the SIGHT partners are exploring a shared Technology Transfer Office (TTO) and a venture-building approach to bring complementary skills together. For smaller institutions in particular, the shared TTO model allows us to build the kind of scale and support infrastructure typically only available to larger research universities.

Empowering researchers and creating infrastructure

The SIGHT programme is built around four key pillars:

1. Commercialisation training for all researchers: Introductory sessions and workshops to help researchers understand IP, routes to market and the fundamentals of translating research into products. These sessions aim to build a culture of commercial awareness across all academic levels. Since January 2025, Oxentia innovation management consultancy, a University of Oxford spinout, has been delivering a programme of commercialisation training across the three partner institutions. Sessions have covered how to shape innovations for real-world impact, building industry partners, a success investment journey, developing a business model and pitching your business idea. 

2. Entrepreneurship training for high-potential projects: A more intensive venture-building bootcamp for selected researchers with promising technologies. Sessions delivered by Lyva Labs will include pitch coaching and investor engagement. The selected teams are also receiving tailored mentorship, business plans and IP strategies to help prepare researchers for real-world commercial conversations. 
    
    
3. Exploring a shared Technology Transfer Office (TTO) model: While each institution will maintain their own staff, SIGHT will explore the benefits of collaborative TTO, combining the strengths of LSHTM, LSTM and BSMS. This model pools expertise and resources to provide consistent, scalable support for health-focused innovations. 
    
    
4. IP policy review and shared SOPs/templates: The programme is conducting an institutional review to align policies and create shared, standardised templates and procedures to reduce friction in the commercialisation process. 

Reframing commercialisation in academia 

To be honest, I've sometimes found the word ‘commercialisation’ intimidating. The processes and expectations it involves can feel unfamiliar and even at odds with the academic mindset, where the focus is often on knowledge for its own sake. However, as was made clear at the event, for global health, the goal isn’t to create the next ‘tech unicorn’; it’s to ensure that discoveries have the greatest possible impact. Affordability and accessibility aren’t afterthoughts; they’re fundamental design criteria. It was interesting to hear the contrast between the ‘for-profit’ model, driven by venture capitalists and angel investors, and the ‘non-profit’ approach - which is often more suitable, if not essential, for global health innovations in the regions that need them most. By embedding this thinking early in the innovation process, programmes like SIGHT can help researchers align scientific feasibility with real-world impact.

There is also a cultural shift required. Many academics, myself included, have been trained to value publications and curiosity-driven research above patents or product development. But the reality is, we need both. It was clear from the event that if we want our work to save lives and change systems, we must also provide the tools, training and incentives to help researchers think beyond the lab bench. Unsurprisingly, it was also clear from the panel discussions that turning academic research into a commercially viable product requires a huge personal commitment from the researcher. This process can be intense, time-consuming and sometimes daunting. Many academics, including myself, are not naturally inclined to move from the lab to business pitches, yet the rewards of doing so are immense: impactful products that can change lives. What was also evident is that no researcher is expected to make this leap alone. The SIGHT programme offers the support and guidance needed to make this journey more manageable.

A broader ecosystem shift

SIGHT is not operating in isolation. Its sister programme, FLIGHT (Framework for Leveraging Innovation in Global Health Technologies), is taking a strategic view of the commercial maturity of the scientific ecosystem across LSHTM and its partners. FLIGHT is identifying knowledge gaps and delivering specific training to address them, and I was delighted to participate in a recent focus group to support this initiative. Both programmes represent a growing recognition that the innovation-to-impact pipeline needs more than just good science; it needs good infrastructure and support systems. This includes clear policies and IP frameworks, stronger support offices, and better connectivity with industry and funders. Crucially, it also includes listening to researchers, understanding the barriers they face and working collaboratively to remove them. Indeed, FLIGHT is about to launch a survey for LSHTM staff and students to capture experiences of commercialisation and help identify training and resource needs. Watch out for announcements in newsletters and the Strategic Research Office’s Research Funding Alert.

Looking forward

Being part of the panel discussion made me reflect on just how important programmes like SIGHT and FLIGHT are. They demonstrate that we don’t just need new science; we need new structures to support innovation with purpose. With global health challenges continuing to grow and research funding decreasing, this shift couldn’t be more urgent. The good news is that we’re moving in the right direction. By pooling knowledge and resources, empowering researchers with new skills and rethinking how we partner with industry, we can build a better innovation ecosystem - one that delivers real-world solutions for those who need them most.

If you’re a researcher at LSHTM working on a promising technology or curious about how your work might translate into broader impact, I’d strongly encourage you to engage with the SIGHT and FLIGHT teams: 

Dr Alexandra Anderson, Strategic Research Manager (alexandra.anderson@lshtm.ac.uk) 

Dr Lisa Tilokani, Business Development Manager (lisa.tilokani@lshtm.ac.uk) 

Dr Richard Wall is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, specialising in drug discovery for infectious diseases and working in close collaboration with industry partners.