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UC Davis Health is unveiling two brand-new initiatives -- the Health Venture Studio and the Investing in the Future of Medicine (IFM) Fund -- to more quickly translate university research into real-world solutions that improve human health. Both initiatives are based at , the university’s innovation district in Sacramento, and are led by , the university’s commercialization and venture-building arm focused on advancing human health innovation.

As its first phase opens in May 2025, Aggie Square represents a transformative convergence of UC Davis’ scientific, clinical and entrepreneurial strengths with private-sector collaboration. When fully developed, the district is projected to generate more than $500 million annually in regional economic output and support over 3,000 new jobs, driving inclusive growth and innovation across the Sacramento region.

The Health Venture Studio at Aggie Square identifies and advances promising UC Davis interdisciplinary research innovations in therapeutics, digital health, molecular diagnostics and medical devices. Through continued development and validation within the university, these technologies are better positioned for clinical and financial impact when licensed or launched as startups.

The IFM Fund, a $25 million investment initiative, complements the studio by directly funding cutting-edge research and the incubation of startups emerging from UC Davis, as well as investing in high-potential companies from outside the university that align with its mission.

“At UC Davis, we recognize that our research and innovation extend beyond labs and academic pursuits. They serve as catalysts for change for the common good and drive economic growth in the region,” said Chancellor Gary S. May. “These new initiatives showcase our commitment to developing solutions that promote the health and well-being of all for generations to come.”

“Through the Health Venture Studio and IFM Fund, UC Davis Health is investing in its own innovations,” said Mike Condrin, interim CEO of UC Davis Health. “We’re empowering our researchers and clinicians to transform their discoveries into real-world solutions that improve human health.”

UC Davis Health Ventures, part of the Innovation & Economic Development Office led by George Baxter, is guided by its culture of cross-campus collaboration -- bringing together academic units, clinical departments, industry partners and investors. Both the studio and the fund follow an industry stage-gated model to evaluate and support innovations, preparing them for commercial translation through licensing or startup formation, which helps to ensure investments are de-risked along the way.

These efforts embody UC Davis Health’s commitment to building a virtuous cycle: from research funding and innovation translation to clinical and financial impact, and back to reinvestment in new discoveries.

About UC Davis Health Ventures

UC Davis Health Ventures is a strategic innovation and commercialization arm within the UC Davis Innovation and Economic Development Office. Health Ventures leads high-impact initiatives to translate research into products and companies that improve human health. Its mission includes a collaborative model with university and regional stakeholders for developing strategic industry partnerships, launching and managing translational funding programs, commercializing intellectual property, and operating a Venture Studio and Fund to incubate UC Davis–born and industry-linked innovations. UC Davis Health Ventures connects faculty, clinicians, investors, and industry to accelerate human health discoveries from the lab to the marketplace in coordination with stakeholders across the campus and Sacramento region.