David Chen

David Chen is the founding Managing Director of the Wallace H. Coulter Center for Translational Research at the University of Virginia and a Professor of Practice in Biomedical Engineering. He also serves as Assistant Dean for Innovation & Entrepreneurship in the School of Engineering and Applied Science. His roles focus on bridging academic research with clinical and commercial applications, emphasizing translational research, entrepreneurship, and technology transfer.

Education:

• B.S. Biology, Liberty University, 1999
• M.S. Cell and Developmental Biology, Rutgers University, 2002
• M.B.A., UVA Darden School of Business, 2006

Research Interests: Translational research, medical device innovation, regulatory pathways, and fostering industry-academia collaborations. His work at the Coulter Center has supported over 115 projects, generating $750M in private capital for startups and advancing technologies like HemoShear and otoscopy training kits.

Teaching: Courses include BME 3030 (Design and Innovation), BME 3040 (Regulatory Design), and BME 4550 (Experiential Learning). He champions professional development through workshops on FDA regulations, project management, and intellectual property.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Coulter Center’s interdisciplinary team, coordinating with the School of Medicine, Licensing & Ventures Group, and industry partners to accelerate biomedical innovations. Key outcomes include FDA pathway guidance, patent development, and funding mechanisms for startups.