Michelle Popowitz, executive director of the UCLA Depression Grand Challenge and UCLA assistant vice chancellor for research, contributed her expertise to a panel at the 7th annual LABEST Bioscience Conference, hosted by the UCLA Technology Development Group (TDG) on May 22, 2025.
Popowitz participated in the panel titled, “Best Practices to Secure Industry Funding,” where she and co-panelists shared their experiences with industry sponsored activities, representing three perspectives: campus perspective (Karla Zepeda), research initiative perspective (Popowitz) and start-up perspective (Guy Rosenthal). Topics covered during the panel discussion, which was moderated by Charanjit Arora, included various forms of collaboration with industry, benefits of collaborations, observed trends, collaboration challenges, and best practices.
The Los Angeles Bioscience Ecosystem Summit (LABEST) is UCLA TDG’s annual convening of leaders from academia, industry, and investment focused on advancing bioscience innovation and commercialization in Los Angeles and beyond. To learn more about the event, visit the UCLA Technology Development Group’s website.
UCLA Technology Development Group (TDG) is UCLA’s central hub for managing intellectual property, fostering startups, and connecting innovators with industry through licensing, patents, sponsorship, other funding, and educational programs. TDG supports faculty, students, and the broader ecosystem.
Michelle Popowitz, JD, MPH clocks nearly 15 years of experience with fostering research at UCLA. She was recruited to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research & Creative Activities in 2011, and in 2020 transitioned to her current role as executive director to support the DGC full-time, where she has had the experience of working closely with funders from various sectors, including industry.
Karla Zepeda joined UCLA TDG in 2008. As the Director of Industry Sponsored Research and Material Transfer, Karla works closely with faculty seeking to obtain funding from industry and non-profit sources. Prior to UCLA, Karla worked at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas as a Contract Specialist within the Office of Technology drafting, negotiating, and executing industry sponsored research agreements and material transfer agreements. Karla received her B.S. in Biology and Chemistry from California State University, Chico and her M.S. in Biotechnology from UT Texas.
Guy Rosenthal, PhD brings nearly 20 years of experience in biotech and pharmaceutical corporate and business development. He serves as the President and CEO of Oryn Therapeutics and has held strategic roles at Laekna Therapeutics, UCLA TDG, and Teva Pharmaceuticals, where he led investments, BD&L, and global R&D collaborations.
Charanjit Arora, JD, PhD joined UCLA TDG in December 2013. Prior to UCLA, he was a patent attorney at a New York City law firm where he drafted and prosecuted patent applications. He holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Cornell University, a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School, and a B.S. in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from UCLA.
