Dr. Sadhana Chitale Elected to the Board of Global Technology Transfer Association

An AUTM member for two decades, Dr. Chitale welcomes the opportunity to represent AUTM’s membership, support the strategic vision of the organization, and advocate for the innovation ecosystem to policymakers.

February 22, 2023 — Dr. Sadhana Chitale, senior director of life sciences and technology transfer in NYU Langone Health’s Technology Opportunities & Ventures, has been elected to the board of AUTM, a 3000-member global nonprofit organization that is leading the effort to educate, promote, and inspire professionals to support the development of academic research that changes the world and drives innovation forward. 

Chitale has been working in technology transfer at New York University since 2001. Her primary area of responsibility is the management of intellectual property and technology commercialization efforts related to life sciences across all of NYU’s campuses. She also oversees the activities of Therapeutics Alliances, NYU Langone Health’s translational drug discovery accelerator, and is the course director for the University’s Foundation of Biomedical Entrepreneurship course. 

Chitale has been an AUTM member for 22 years and was a long-time volunteer on the AUTM Annual Meeting Planning Committee. During her three-year term on the board of directors she will represent AUTM’s membership, supporting the strategic vision of the organization, and advocating for the innovation ecosystem to policy-makers.

“AUTM has played an important role in my career by providing me with learning opportunities and an amazing network of peers who I can reach out to when I need help or advice,” said Chitale. “This generosity between peers in knowledge sharing is what makes AUTM unique, and I welcome the opportunity to contribute back to an organization that has given me so much.”

While this is Chitale’s first term serving on AUTM’s board, her broad experience includes sitting on the advisory board of NYU’s Parekh Center for Interdisciplinary Neurology and as a review committee member on the advisory board of the NYU Center for Translational Initiatives. Outside of the University, Chitale is on the program planning committee for business development and translational medicine for the BIO International Convention.

Throughout her career, Chitale has been committed to sharing her skills and expertise with her peers. She created the Women in Licensing (WIL) Group with the goal of providing a network for other women in technology transfer and licensing to discuss professional challenges, network, and find opportunities. In addition, she has published five articles in Nature Biotechnology covering entrepreneurship, deal making, patenting, and lessons learned in licensing. Through her publications, she highlights the challenges faced in developing early-stage ideas and highlights important issues for scientific founders.

“Sadhana’s election to AUTM’s board is recognition of her leadership, passion, and commitment to the field over the past 20 years,” said Marc Sedam, vice president of Technology Opportunities & Ventures and former Chair of AUTM. “It is a well-earned honor.”