JHTV’s Innovator in Residence (IIR) Program leverages the experience and expertise of external life sciences leaders to enhance faculty and student education in early translational research and entrepreneurship. As our inaugural IIR, Emmett Cunningham, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., provides guidance to our faculty and student innovators on advancing Johns Hopkins research with a primary focus on therapeutics.
Our Innovators in Residence are part of a wider team of advisors and mentors who are willing to share their expertise with Johns Hopkins faculty and students. The Innovator in Residence program is designed to support high-level, value-creating projects through accelerated innovation.
Innovator in Residence Scope
- Serve as an ad-hoc resource to Johns Hopkins faculty members with questions and concerns regarding innovation, product development, and company creation
- Advise on or assist with the development of product development strategies
- Build internal and external support for faculty innovation and entrepreneurship
- Share best practices and industry knowledge on product development, company creation, partnership formation, and financing
- Provide expertise and guidance in preparation for investor discussions
- Identify market opportunities
- Participate as a guest lecturer or panelist related to faculty education, specific commercialization trends/projects, careers in innovation or appropriate topics
- Support the creation of start-ups within the Johns Hopkins ecosystem
Innovator in Residence Activities
- Visit Baltimore two to four times a year for one to two days of selected meetings and educational sessions (including workshops, bootcamps, lunch and learns, and panels)
- Host virtual monthly “office hours” for Johns Hopkins faculty members interested in innovation and entrepreneurship
- Participate in monthly calls with JHTV staff to share feedback on how the program is going and to help improve JHTV outreach and faculty support
About Emmett Cunningham, Jr., M.D., Ph.D.
Emmett Cunningham has been a full-time entrepreneur and investor for more than 20 years. He retired at the end of 2023 from the Blackstone Group (BX), where he served as a Senior Managing Director (SMD) from November 2018 until March 2023, and subsequently as an Executive Advisor. Following his retirement from his Senior Managing Director role at BX in March of 2023, Dr. Cunningham joined HealthQuest Capital Management as a Senior Partner and is currently on the Board of Galera Therapeutics. An internationally recognized specialist in infectious and inflammatory eye disease with over 400 publications, he received an M.D. and MPH in epidemiology and statistics from Johns Hopkins University and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of California at San Diego for work done at The Salk Institute. Read full bio.
Connect with Us
Johns Hopkins innovators interested in connecting with our inaugural Innovator in Residence, Emmett Cunningham: Contact Christina DeMur, director of technology development at JHTV
Johns Hopkins-affiliated industry leaders looking to share their expertise and knowledge with burgeoning Johns Hopkins entrepreneurs: Contact Allison Wiles, director of innovation initiatives at JHTV