Start-Up Guidelines

Faculty Start-ups

The Zucker Institute believes MUSC is at the cutting edge of research and development, which often translates into entrepreneurial endeavors across broad biomedical industry spectrums.

It is important that such activities have a positive impact on both MUSC and the community and that the Zucker Institute offers the proper support to MUSC's research community to sustain a university-wide entrepreneurial culture, while promoting an ethical framework for its success. Please see the MUSC Faculty Handbook that includes information on the Start-up Faculty Policy.

To support MUSC's entrepreneurial activities, the Zucker Institute provides a variety of services to assess new venture viability including:

  • Educating faculty, staff and students in technology commercialization.
  • Mentoring prospective and early entrepreneurs.
  • Conducting initial interview with the inventor to evaluate and gain clarity on the basics of the technology / invention at the ideation phase.

Faculty Start-Up Guidelines

Involvement of faculty with startup ventures must be reviewed by the Department Chair, College Dean for the faculty member, and the Associate Provost for Research. In addition, the MUSC Research Conflict of Interest Committee will review the conditions and articles of the venture for compliance with MUSC Conflict of Interest Policies and Practices.

Please submit the Request for Approval – Professional Activity related to faculty start-up venture form to the Zucker Institute along with a cover letter from the faculty member providing background on the startup venture including management structure, the faculty member's anticipated involvement in the faculty startup venture and the relationship of the involvement to their function as a MUSC faculty member. The form should be completed in full and sent to Kaitlyn Crobar, Technology Transfer Associate at the Zucker Institute. For additional information, please call: 843-876-1900.

The Zucker Institute will review the document with the Vice President for Research and Distinguished University Associate Dean of Clinical and Translational Research and forward it to the Department Chair and College Dean for review and signature before returning it to the the Zucker Institute. The Zucker Institute will then send the completed form to the MUSC Research Conflict of Interest Review Committee for review.