Episode
Episode 265 | Dr. Malcolm Townes, Innovation Fund Manager at Washington University | Strategic Medtech Commercialization: Lessons from the Gap Fund
- Podcast
- Project Medtech
- Published
- Jun 15, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2742
- Processing state
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Summary
In this episode, Dr. Malcolm Townes breaks down how WashU is building a more execution-focused commercialization engine through its Gap Fund, designed to advance non-drug, non-therapeutic technologies by funding the technology (not startups) to avoid conflicts and drive sharper development decisions. He shares why hands-on, milestone-based funding and rigorous customer discovery are essential to uncovering “unknown unknowns,” preventing expert blindness, and aligning products with real clinical workflows. The conversation also explores how WashU leverages EIRs and Venture Fellows to add commercialization horsepower, why “coachability” is the strongest predictor of success, and what innovators most often miss: FDA clearance isn’t enough—market access and reimbursement require different proof, data, and strategy. Dr. Malcolm Townes LinkedIn Washington University in St. Louis Gap Fund Website Duane Mancini LinkedIn Project Medtech Website Project Medtech LinkedIn Thank you to our sponsors: Ward Law and JumpStart Inc .