Visitors & Friends > News > Releases > General > Article

News Releases

September 29, 2003

Media Contacts: Greg Horowitt, UCSD CONNECT, (858) 964-1311
Bruce Dunn, UCSD Extension, (858) 534-8506

UCSD CONNECT DIRECTOR RETURNS TO PRIVATE SECTOR

Fred Cutler, Ph.D., executive director of UCSD CONNECT for the last three years, has decided to return to the private sector, effective October 1, 2003. Subsequent to the death of Bill Otterson in the fall of 1999, UCSD CONNECT embarked on a national search for a new director. Fred Cutler, who had enjoyed many successful years in the Silicon Valley, and at the time was a private investor, emerged as the leading candidate. Cutler joined the University of California, San Diego in the fall of 2000 and worked assiduously to build stronger ties among UCSD academic departments and the business, management and investment resources represented by the CONNECT network.

The most significant achievement of the last three years has been Cutler’s invaluable contribution to the development of the Translational Medicine program in the UCSD School of Medicine, working closely with Dean Edward Holmes. This program has helped to fill a funding and development gap that has existed
between basic research and technology commercialization for decades. “Without
Fred’s invaluable contributions and the web of relationships the university has
through UCSD CONNECT, this program would have been much more difficult to
launch,” commented Dr. Edward Holmes, dean of the UCSD School of Medicine.

“It’s been a great experience being in the middle of such a quality program,” said Cutler. “Over its many years, UCSD CONNECT has brought much value to the technology business community and to UCSD. As I move back to being an investor and advisor to technology companies, I will continue to be a strong supporter of CONNECT.”

In spite of radical changes in the marketplace and a diminution of investment in start-up companies, CONNECT’s programs have continued to attract large numbers of new entrepreneurs as well as record numbers of attendees at important events such as the Tech and Life Science Financial Forums and the
Most Innovative new Products Awards Luncheon.

Mary Walshok, associate vice chancellor for Public Programs at UCSD, indicated that Cutler has been, “a terrific bridge to the future for UCSD CONNECT.” Greg Horowitt will serve as manager of the CONNECT programs during the fall quarter and a small interim executive management committee will work with Walshok and the university to provide oversight for the CONNECT program while beginning the process of recruiting a new director.

UCSD CONNECT is a twenty year-old technology commercialization network, which is considered by many to be a national and international model of how universities and communities can collaborate to accelerate regional economic
growth. “CONNECT has made remarkable contributions to the growth of high-tech
companies in San Diego over the last twenty years and it will continue to be a
valuable resource and partner in the future,” according to David Hale, CEO of
CancerVax, current chair of BioCom, and one of the original founders of CONNECT.

About UCSD CONNECT
UCSD CONNECT is a globally recognized, university-based non-profit
organization fostering entrepreneurship in the San Diego region by catalyzing,
accelerating, and supporting the growth of the most promising technology and life
sciences businesses. Focused on assisting growth companies in the San Diego
region, CONNECT has been directly involved with over 900 companies since its
inception in 1985, these companies went on to raise more than $7.3 billion in
capital. Part of the University of California, San Diego, CONNECT has a dual role
in accelerating growth: it assists growth companies in the San Diego region and
promotes the commercialization of technology from university-based research.
CONNECT's programs also help business service providers, attorneys, accountants, bankers, investors, and marketing professionals with knowledge about emerging technologies and access to new business opportunities. CONNECT is entirely self-supporting and receives no funding from UCSD or the State of California. The organization relies on philanthropy and underwriting to fund its programs and community services. For more information, visit www.connect.org .