Welcome, Robert Foldes!

We are pleased to welcome Robert Foldes to the UHN Commercialization Team! Robert joins us in the role of Principal, Commercialization Investment Programs at UHN.

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In his new role, Robert will manage UHN’s inaugural internal commercialization funding program, the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Innovation Acceleration Fund (IAF), created in 2016 in partnership with the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. Building on its success to-date of funding over 30 projects at an investment of nearly $7 million, Robert will work to expand the IAF across UHN and to establish broader internal investment programs to leverage the vast clinical research infrastructure at UHN – including the creation of a future clinical accelerator program.

Robert’s role supports UHN Commercialization in the commitment to convert our world class science into products and treatments with the potential to impact patients world wide. UHN’s internal de-risking investments are a cornerstone of our strategy, offering access to capital to help our early-stage discoveries advance towards further external investment and development and ultimately, patient impact.

Robert has worked with research institutes, start-ups, private, and public companies alike and is an accomplished leader with strong businessdevelopment, product development and R&D background. He has negotiated andmanaged partnerships with multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology companiesand has a record of success in securing financing from diverse sources. He hasled multi-stakeholder consortia focused on innovation and has managed drugdiscovery and preclinical development efforts leading to first-in-humanclinical trials.

He derives deep personal satisfaction from working with outstandingprofessionals and helping to advance discoveries with the potential to developthese into breakthrough medical treatments and advances in patient care.

Robert is a molecular biologist and holds a Ph.D. in Pharmacology fromthe University of Nebraska Medical Center, and an M.B.A. from the SchulichSchool of Business. His substantial experience interfacing between life scienceresearch and industry is a great asset to his role in developingcommercialization funding programs for UHN’s translational and clinicalresearch.  

Please join us in welcoming Robert to the team!

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