MUSC and Zucker Institute name new CEO

After a national search process, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and the Zucker Institute for Innovation Commercialization (ZI) announced today that Todd Headley has been named as new chief executive officer for ZI effective immediately.

“As the Zucker Institute reorganization continues to support innovative and inventive endeavors of MUSC employees and students, we believe that Todd is the absolute right leader to guide growth and leadership,” said Jesse Goodwin, Ph.D., chief innovation officer at MUSC and chair of the board of directors for ZI. “Our board and team believe Todd will help firmly lay the foundation for expanded growth and guidance.”

Headley has more than 20 years of licensing, business development and startup formation experience, including most recently serving as executive vice president of corporate development at Statera Biopharma, where he worked closely with senior leadership to evaluate and manage strategic growth programs. He previously served as president of CSU Ventures and vice president of the Colorado State University Research Foundation, where he led a team working in intellectual property management, licensing and university startups and was charged with deriving impact and value from over $450 million in annual research expenditures at Colorado State University. Additionally, he is well-versed in technology transfer offices in the life sciences industry and academic research institutions, having worked in technology transfer offices at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Iowa State University.

“I could not be more honored to lead this amazing institute and have the opportunity to work closely with this team,” said Headley. “I am extremely optimistic for the future of this amazing organization and thankful for the support from MUSC leadership in continuing to grow innovation across this state. Their guidance gives a clear mission focused on innovative excellence to help grow inventors and entrepreneurship in South Carolina.”

The Zucker Institute acts as a component of the Office of Innovation at MUSC as it looks to continue to build a nationally recognized culture of innovation. Reorganized in 2022 from the Zucker Institute for Applied Neuroscience (ZIAN) and MUSC Foundation for Research Development (FRD), the group is tasked with translating MUSC’s intellectual property-backed scholarly research and clinical and education efforts into products used beyond MUSC.

“We are excited to have Todd join the Zucker Institute,” said MUSC President David J. Cole, M.D., FACS. “His vast experience in technology transfer offices and life science businesses will be invaluable as we continue to facilitate real-world, beneficial impact for those that we serve. I look forward to working with him in his new role along with the ZI board as we continue to foster a culture of innovation throughout South Carolina.”