Tech Commercialization Staff Bios
Christopher A. Willson, PhD, MBA, Director, Office of Technology Commercialization, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Chris Willson joined The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital as the director of Technology Commercialization in April 2008. His activities focus on identifying new technologies for commercialization and working to partner with companies to move these technologies into the marketplace. These activities fit with Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s goal to create an entrepreneurial environment. Chris is also a member of the TechColumbus Pre-Seed Fund Committee as well as on the organizing committee for the annual Innovation Summit held in Columbus, OH.
Prior to coming to Nationwide Children’s, Chris was the assistant director in the Office of Technology Transfer at the University of Louisville for seven years. He earned his MBA from the University of Louisville and his PhD in Neurosciences from Loyola University in Chicago.
Christopher.Willson@NationwideChildrens.org
Wayne D. Hawthorne, MBA, Licensing Associate, Office of Technology Commercialization, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Wayne joined The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital as licensing associate in April 2009. His activities focus on identifying new technologies for marketing and licensing, while building relationships with companies to commercialize these technologies into the marketplace. These activities stem with Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s strategic plan to discover new treatments and cures for pediatric and general diseases.
Prior to coming to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Wayne was the Technology Transfer coordinator at Ohio University, where he managed over 80 U.S. and 250 foreign issued patents. Prior to Ohio University, Wayne was a technology analyst at the WVHTC Foundation, where he evaluated various technologies and discoveries to develop commercialization and marketing strategies. He earned his MBA and BS from the Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling, WV.
Wayne.Hawthorne@NationwideChildrens.org
Margaret Barkett, PhD, Licensing Associate, Office of Technology Commercialization, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Margaret joined The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital as a licensing associate in February 2010. She earned her PhD degree in Molecular and Cell Biology from Boston University, where she continued her training as a Postdoctoral Fellow. Her doctoral and postdoctoral research in cell death biology spanned different areas including cancer biology and development. Margaret recently completed a one-year technology licensing internship at Massachusetts Institute of Technology focusing on medical devices and biotechnology.
Margaret.Barkett@NationwideChildrens.org
Jennifer E. Neelans, Compliance Specialist, Office of Technology Commercialization, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Jennifer joined The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in December 2005 as the Technical Coordinator for the Patents & Copyrights Committee and has since been promoted to Compliance Specialist. She is responsible for tracking and reporting all federal funded research disclosures and patents as well as maintaining financial transactions related to the Intellectual Property portfolio.
Jennifer is also a Lead Administrative Assistant in the Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and has been with Nationwide Children’s Hospital since 1999. She also serves as a Notary Public.
Jennifer.Neelans@NationwideChildrens.org
Supatra S. Davis, Secretary, Office of Technology Commercialization, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Supatra joined The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in August 2008. As the Secretary for the Office of Technology Commercialization, her duties serves as the point of contact for agreement requests and submissions, monthly and quarterly report statistics, and miscellaneous administrative duties. She has more than 15 years experience as a Secretary and is currently pursuing a BS degree in Business Administration.
