How NCATS Accelerates Drug Discovery and Development

I’m speaking with two incredible guests, Ami Gadhia and Balki Balakrishnan, from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). Together, they explore the groundbreaking work NCATS is doing to tackle one of the biggest challenges in healthcare: making drug discovery and development faster, more efficient, and accessible for rare diseases.

Ami and Balki share how NCATS is breaking barriers, from pioneering the use of human organoids to creating innovative collaboration models with external researchers. You’ll hear real-world examples of success, like the development of Metarrestin, a promising cancer treatment, and a partnership with Cincinnati Children’s that’s driving advancements in therapies for rare blood disorders.

If you’ve ever wondered how federal labs work to bring life-changing technologies to market or what it takes to accelerate the path from research to real-world impact, this episode is for you. Get ready to be inspired by the people, the mission, and the progress shaping the future of medicine.

Ami Gadhia is a senior technology transfer and patenting specialist at NCATS' Office of Strategic Alliances, where she facilitates collaborations, negotiates agreements, and oversees intellectual property rights in joint research and development projects. She began her technology transfer career at Johns Hopkins University, advancing to lead licensing teams across medical devices, imaging, and compliance. 

Before Hopkins, Ami practiced IP law, prosecuting patents and managing trademarks, copyrights, and licensing for diverse clients. She holds a B.S. in chemical engineering and a J.D., both with honors from Wayne State University, as well as a master’s in IP law from George Washington University. Ami is a certified licensing professional, registered patent attorney, and active industry speaker.

Krishna (Balki) Balakrishnan is the director of NCATS’ Office of Strategic Alliances (OSA), where he leads a team managing partnerships, technology transfer, and commercialization efforts. He oversees strategic collaborations, licensing, and intellectual property protection, ensuring the success of NCATS’ scientific endeavors. 

Balki also directs the NCATS Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, supporting small businesses through education and resources. Prior to joining NCATS in 2011, he held leadership roles at NIH and in the biotech industry, including executive director at the Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences and vice president at Covance. Balki’s extensive experience bridges science, business, and innovation.

In This Episode:

[01:49] The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) breaks down the barriers that stand in the way of drug discovery and development.

[02:17] Balki explains NCATS which was established in December of 2011. The system is dedicated to reducing barriers that stand in the way of drug discovery and development. They want to get more treatment to more people more quickly.

[05:02] NIH's dual role in the scientific ecosystem as a funder of research through our extramural staff and an active doer of research through intramural labs makes it a uniquely powerful scientific organization.

[06:16] Balki shares an example of how NCATS was able to combine the powers of internal research and external grant funding.

[07:20] Human organoids have become more and more predictive of drug toxicity and efficacy.

[09:14] Confidential Disclosure Agreement, or a CDA, which is a gateway agreement to facilitate discussions among scientists so that they may share information. There are also MTAs and a variety of collaboration agreements.

[12:13] Applying research and the principle behind tech transfer and how it intersects.

[15:32] NCATS has taken the lead to develop Metarrestin, a promising cancer drug.

[19:02] Ami shares an example of collaboration.

[21:08] NCATS reduces barriers to earlier stage drug discovery and development to avoid risk for investors.

[25:36] Balki talks about licensing deals and tech transfer. He's glad he works in tech transfer full-time at NIH.

[26:58] Ami worked on technology transfer policy for international jurisdictions when she was at the International Intellectual Property Institute.

[28:20] Tech transfer brings together a lot of disciplines. Collaboration has been a source of success and job satisfaction for Balki. 

[31:05] Biggest challenges facing the federal tech transfer community today.

[35:23] Marketing and staff challenges are both issues. 

Resources: 

Ami Gadhia

Ami Gadhia LinkedIn

Balki Balakrishnan

Balki Balakrishnan LinkedIn

Marketing From All Angles: The Transfer Files Podcast Episode Out Now