Lakshmi Sastry-Dent joins IU ICO, will manage mostly IUPUI, IU School of Medicine technologies

The Indiana University Innovation and Commercialization Office, which protects, markets and licenses intellectual property developed at IU so it can be commercialized by industry, has hired Lakshmi Sastry-Dent as senior technology commercialization manager.

Bill Brizzard, executive director, said Sastry-Dent will strengthen IU ICO’s abilities to work with university inventors.

“Lakshmi has a strong technical background and a wealth of business experience,” Brizzard said. “We are delighted to have her join the ICO team.”

Sastry-Dent will work predominantly with technologies developed at the IU School of Medicine and IUPUI. She will evaluate them, facilitate the patent process, negotiate licenses, and build relationships with university researchers and industry contacts. Previously, she worked at Dow AgroSciences, now Corteva Agriscience.

“I am an experienced R&D scientist with expertise in technology development, project and people management, intellectual property management, technology evaluation, and collaboration management,” Sastry-Dent said. “IU ICO is a great match, as I can leverage my experience and skills to effectively protect and commercialize IU innovations. My current role also allows me to use my broad biotechnology experience and formal education in chemistry. I look forward to being part of IU’s innovation culture and help raise visibility of Indiana University and the ICO.”