Press Releases

Seattle, WA - Oct 17, 2011

Dr. Cao Named Business Development Director for Benaroya Research Institute

The Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason (BRI) recently announced Bolong Cao, PhD, as director of business development. Dr. Cao was previously senior technology manager, licensing officer and technology manager for more than six years at the University of Washington Center for Commercialization. Prior, he was technical director, Business Development for Cerep, Inc. in Redmond, Wash., and director, Technology Assessment and Licensing at Molecumetics, Ltd., Bellevue, Wash. Dr. Cao also has a strong scientific background and worked as a senior scientist and manager for more than seven years. He has a master’s degree in business administration and holds a doctorate in chemistry/structural biology from the University of Washington.

Dr. Cao is the first director of business development for BRI, a new position created to develop and implement an intellectual property management and technology commercialization strategy for the BRI portfolio of intellectual property. This includes evaluating BRI inventions for potential patents and commercialization, negotiating technology transfer and license agreements, and providing support for scientists’ entrepreneurial activities such as starting companies.

"BRI’s commercialization efforts will accelerate delivery of brand-new therapies into the treatment arena faster," said Jack Nagan, executive director of BRI.

"BRI is conducting a great deal of exciting research with tremendous commercial potential," said Dr. Cao. "These new inventions can be used to diagnose or treat diseases. BRI’s broad spectrum of innovation that translates laboratory research into real-life applications is unique and very promising. Commercializing research discoveries benefits the public and can generate additional resources for the scientists and research work at BRI."

Blog Main Image - BRI Building Rear

About Benaroya Research Institute

Benaroya Research Institute (BRI) is a world leader in human immune system research. BRI works to advance the science that will predict, prevent, reverse and cure immune system diseases like allergies, asthma, cancer, COVID-19 and autoimmune diseases. BRI accelerates discovery through laboratory breakthroughs in immunology that are then translated to clinical therapies. We believe that a breakthrough in one immune system disease can lead to progress against them all, and work tirelessly toward our vision of a healthy immune system for everyone. BRI is a world-renowned independent nonprofit research institute affiliated with Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and based in Seattle.

To learn more, visit benaroyaresearch.org and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, X and YouTube.