Andrew Watson

In his current role, Dr. Watson manages all aspects of technology transfer, intellectual property, technology evaluation and development, licensing and commercialization for Oregon Health & Science University.  He is responsible for the overall management of the university’s technology transfer office and is responsible for developing and implementing university policies, providing leadership in developing strategies for corporate collaborations, and serves as an OHSU spokesperson for matters relating to intellectual property, commercialization and the economic impact of OHSU’s research. Since taking on the leadership of technology transfer in 2012, Dr. Watson and his team have more than doubled the number of annual commercialization agreements entered into each year, led a dramatic shift in faculty satisfaction, and has established new programs and sources of revenue to support the ongoing efforts at the university.  Dr. Watson serves as a technology commercialization expert on several grant review panels including for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (part of the US Department of Defense) and Business Oregon.  He has authored several scientific publications and technology transfer articles, and also been an invited speaker at national and international scientific and commercialization conferences. He is a Certified Licensing Professional through the Licensing Executives Society, and an active member of the Association of University Technology Managers, the Licensing Executives Society, the University Industry Development Partnership and the Oregon Bioscience Association.

Previously, Dr. Watson served as a Technology Development Officer in the Office of Technology Development at The Scripps Research Institute in San Diego and in technology transfer roles with Health Research Inc. and the Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc., in New York. He came to OHSU in 2007 as a Technology Development Manager before being promoted to Director in 2012.

Dr. Watson received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Whitworth University in Spokane, WA and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences with a research emphasis in Immunology and Infectious Diseases from the State University of New York at Albany in New York. Outside of OHSU Technology Transfer, Dr. Watson enjoys time with his family including his two energetic children, is an avid camper, backpacker and kayaker, and is a sports junkie.  He is an Eagle Scout and recipient of the Portland Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 Award.

Participating years: 2020