Since 2005, Lianne W. Landers has worked closely with faculty entrepreneurs, helping them to develop early-stage innovations that have commercial potential. She facilitates relationships with the investment and entrepreneurship community, particularly through such programs as the Biomedical Innovation Fund, the U.Va. Venture Summit and the U.Va. Entrepreneurship Cup. As a key mechanism through which these relationships are developed, Landers directs U.Va.’s Venture Forward mentoring program, building teams of alumni business experts around faculty start-up companies and other emerging ventures.
As part of the University of Virginia’s commitment to the Southwest Virginia region, Landers co-created an entrepreneurial blueprint that identifies strategies to accelerate growth for new and existing ventures and provides the groundwork for future regional investments.
Prior to joining U.Va. Innovation and the Office of the Vice President for Research, Landers consulted on research projects — specifically in the areas of breast cancer awareness, child abuse and asthma protocols — in the U.Va. Department of Psychiatric Medicine. Previous experience includes policy and program development related to consumer protection and legislation within the government sector.
