Matthew Leming, PhD

Matthew Leming is Managing Partner, VP of Operations at Trivariance I/O. With over 10 years of experience in basic scientific research, project/program management, and technology transfer, Matt has served as a Postdoctoral Associate at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, where he began working in translational science and commercialization. However, his passion truly lies in the field of academic commercial translation. To contribute to this rapidly growing and dynamic field, Matthew joined the sciVelo team in July 2016 as a Commercial Translation Program Manager. In this role he assisted faculty interested in developing translational research and/or commercial translation at University of Pittsburgh.

Matthew is thankful for his expertise gained at sciVelo and is proud to have experience working with “an agile and hard-working group of people, dedicated to commercialization of technology.  By joining such a talented group, I learned several technical and operational processes necessary for optimization of commercial translation. Since commercialization is challenging to assign to a rigid process, mastering flexibility was paramount. Most notably, was the ability to transform complications and pain points into opportunities and outcomes.”

Education

PhD, Biology, University of Notre Dame, 2015
BS, Genetics, University of Kansas, 2007

Research Experience

Graduate Research, Department of Biology, University of Notre Dame

Advisor: Joseph O’Tousa, PhD

• Metoxen A, Leming M, Hu X, Whaley M and O’Tousa J. Light-Driven Processes Control Both Rhodopsin Maturation and Recycling in Mosquito Photoreceptors. Journal of Neuroscience. 2016. 36 (43) 11051-11058. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27798185
• Leming M, Rund S, Duffield G, O’Tousa J. Aedes aegypti circadian database: A microarray analysis of circadian and diel rhythmic gene expression in the mosquito Aedes aegypti. BMC Genomics. 2014. 15(1):1128. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25516260
• Rocha M, Kimler K, Leming M, Xiaobang H, Whaley M, O’Tousa J. Rhodopsin expression in the larval visual system of mosquitoes. Journal of Experimental Biology. 2015 May; 218(Pt9). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25750414
• Moon Y, Metoxen A, Leming M, Whaley M, O’Tousa J. Rhodopsin management during the light-dark cycle of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes. Journal of Insect Physiology. 2014 Sept; 70c 88-93. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25260623
• Mysore K, Flannery E, Leming M, Tomchaney M, Shi L, Sun L, O'Tousa J, Severson D, Duman-Scheel M. Role of semaphorin-1a in the developing visual system of the yellow/dengue fever vector mosquito Aedes aegypti. Developmental Dynamics. 2014 DOI: 10.1002/DVDY.24168. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25045063
• Hu X, Leming M, Whaley M, O’Tousa J. Rhodopsin coexpression in UV photoreceptors of Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes. Journal of Experimental Biology. 2013 Dec 9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24311804
• Rund S, Bonar N, Champion M, Ghazi J, Houk C, Leming M, Syed Z, Duffield G. Daily rhythms in antennal protein and electroatennogram sensitivity in the Anopheles gambiae mosquito. Scientific Reports. 2013 Aug 7; 3, 2494. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23986098
• *Hu X, *Leming M, *Metoxen A, Whaley M, O’Tousa J. Light-mediated control of rhodopsin movement in mosquito photoreceptors. Journal of Neuroscience. 2012 Oct 3; 32(40). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23035078

Undergraduate Research, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Kansas
Advisor: Kathy Mitchell, PhD

• Hoynowski S, Fry M, Gardner B, Leming M, Tucker J, Black L, Sand T and Mitchell K. Characterization and differentiation of equine umbilical cord-derived matrix cells. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 2007 362:2 347-353. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17719011.

Commercial Translation Experience

Translation Experience

Orenda Medical, Co-Founder
November 2016 – Present

• Developing non-invasive, in-home test to assess Phe levels for PKU patients
• Organizing and coordinating TLR2 studies for device efficacy

Graduate Benchsaver Racks, President
South Bend, IN
December 2013 – January 2015

• Improved and tested flagship product: pentaFrost 1, a test-tube rack with built in ice tray
• Demonstrated efficacy of product through focus groups, surveys and individual trials
• Collaborated with inventors to establish minimum viable product
• Entered into the Notre Dame McCloskey Business Plan Competition and broke to the second round

Trueclean Handwashing System, Co-inventor
South Bend, IN
April 2012 – December 2013

• Developed the TrueClean Handwashing System
• Collaborated with other inventors to establish minimum viable product
• Awarded third place in the Startup Weekend competition at Innovation Park
• Filed provisional patent application for design

Commercialization Experience

Served on both sides of the table during funding/investment pitches

• The front of the table:
  • Pitching for funding for personal endeavors, e.g. Orenda Medical, TruClean Handwashing System
  • Working with the sciVelo team and researchers to develop business plans, exit strategies and pitch decks prior to a funding pitching
• The back of the table:
  • Assessed quality and completeness of pitches presented to Trivariance I/O
  • Conferred with investment committee post-pitch to develop follow-up questions and ultimately make a funding decision