Bina partners with Colorado's Leeds School of Business to train researchers on applying translational science in their labs
The Weizmann Institute’s Bina unit was launched in 2021 to create a clear pathway from early-stage laboratory discoveries—the “Eureka!” moments—to real-world applications with societal benefit.
The Bina team partnered with the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship of the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado, Boulder, to design the Idea-to-Action Workshop, which empowers participants with the skills needed to advance translational science within their labs. The 3.5-day program aims to foster a mindset shift, helping participants recognize and explore opportunities for practical market solutions.
A member of the Weizmann Institute’s International Board first suggested a partnership with Leeds to then-Vice President for Technology Transfer Prof. Irit Sagi in 2020. Prof. Sagi spearheaded the effort to craft a program tailored to the needs of Weizmann staff scientists, with the first Idea-to-Action Workshop convening in 2022 through Bina.
Offering structured sessions, the workshop equips Weizmann staff scientists with a new perspective on research design, validation, and progression toward application, as well as how to pitch their work effectively. The goal is to build a community of translational research scientists within the broader Weizmann innovation ecosystem.
The Deming Center is one of the top entrepreneurship programs in the United States. Deming faculty—including Executive Director Erick Mueller and Faculty Director Brad Werner—teach the course, which is held on the Weizmann campus, and assist in its development and execution to enhance the learning experience for Weizmann participants.
Analyzing potential and need
Bina hosted its second cohort of 15 participants in February 2025 and plans to host a new cycle every 1-2 years, with the next one scheduled for late 2026. Each workshop provides over 30 intensive hours of lectures and classes. Alumni from the first cohort offered highly positive reviews, six of whom are now leading an applied project at Bina.
“The Idea-to-Action program has been a wonderful opportunity to learn how to critically dissect a basic research study from the standpoint of an entrepreneur—how to analyze the potential of a project to be applied for a new need,” says Staff Scientist Dr. Ghil Jona, Head of the Bacteriology and Genomic Repository Unit in Weizmann’s Life Sciences Core Facilities. “The program also helped focus me when researchers approach me with new ideas for studies. Now I try to highlight the less obvious directions and possible applications. And the fact that I am involved and heading one such application driven–research project myself, demonstrates even more clearly the power and importance of the program.”
Adds Dr. Inbal Neta-Sharir from the Department of Biomolecular Sciences, “Attending the workshop provided me with a new perspective on the research that I am involved in, as well as a new network of people with whom to collaborate in the future.”
Bina is supported by Roberto and Renata Ruhman.
