{"675037":{"#nid":"675037","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Tech\u2019s Office of Commercialization Spotlights Nakia Melecio\u2019s Impact on NIH Grant Programs","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ENakia Melecio, the VentureLab Principal under the Office of Commercialization, has made remarkable progress in enhancing the grant programs of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Over an intensive eight-month period, Melecio was part of an evaluation committee that focused on refining initiatives of the NIH\u2019s National Cancer Institute, particularly the Small Business Transition Grant and other related grant programs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe experience was both enlightening and challenging,\u201d Melecio said. \u201cWe engaged with faculty from over 20 universities to understand the diverse needs \u2014 from early-stage research to the commercialization of technology.\u201d His pivotal role in streamlining the application processes for the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs has significantly enhanced their efficiency and accessibility.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA key aspect of Melecio\u2019s efforts was to increase participation from historically underrepresented groups, with a significant focus on supporting historically Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions. His strategic insights have helped reshape these programs to better facilitate the commercialization of technologies developed within academic institutions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKeith McGreggor, director of VentureLab, praised Melecio\u2019s contributions. \u201cNakia\u2019s work embodies our mission to transform research into viable market opportunities, ensuring broad access and benefit. The approval of the committee\u2019s recommendations by the NCI leadership marks a significant advancement in our ongoing effort to make NIH funding more accessible and effective,\u201d he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs these enhancements are implemented, they promise to significantly improve the landscape for commercializing technologies originating from university research, fostering broader innovation and practical application of groundbreaking discoveries.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Office of Commercialization at Georgia Tech continues to support faculty and researchers as they navigate these improved opportunities, ensuring that the leadership and expertise within our community are directed toward national and global advancements in science and technology.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStay engaged with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/commercialization.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EOffice of Commercialization\u003C\/a\u003E for ongoing updates on this and other initiatives.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ENakia Melecio, the VentureLab Principal under the Office of Commercialization, has made remarkable progress in enhancing the grant programs of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Over an intensive eight-month period, Melecio was part of an evaluation committee that focused on refining initiatives of the NIH\u2019s National Cancer Institute, particularly the Small Business Transition Grant and other related grant programs.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Nakia Melecio, the VentureLab Principal under the Office of Commercialization, has made remarkable progress in enhancing the grant programs of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). "}],"uid":"36434","created_gmt":"2024-06-07 13:56:12","changed_gmt":"2026-03-17 20:43:49","author":"lcameron30","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-06-07T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-06-07T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674153":{"id":"674153","type":"image","title":"NakiaMelecio.jpg","body":null,"created":"1717768686","gmt_created":"2024-06-07 13:58:06","changed":"1717768686","gmt_changed":"2024-06-07 13:58:06","alt":"NakiaMelecio","file":{"fid":"257631","name":"NakiaMelecio.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/06\/07\/NakiaMelecio.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/06\/07\/NakiaMelecio.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":176811,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/06\/07\/NakiaMelecio.jpg?itok=tgjWUukH"}}},"media_ids":["674153"],"groups":[{"id":"655285","name":"GT Commercialization"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"192930","name":"gt-commercializationnews"},{"id":"192255","name":"go-commercializationnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193658","name":"Commercialization"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ELacey Cameron\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["lcameron30@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}