Governance
Alfred Mann Institutes (AMI) are governed by an Executive Director reporting to a Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is appointed 50% by the University and 50% by the Alfred Mann Foundation for Biomedical Engineering (AEMFBE). This jointly appointed Board oversees the funding of projects presented by the Executive Director. University technologies can only be adopted into an AMI if a majority of the Board votes to fund a technology for AMI development.
The university participates in the administration and oversight of the AMI through appointment of one half of the Institute’s Board of Directors. The university board appointments represents the university interests as well as the interest of its AMI. The FBE appoints qualified business leaders from industry, not necessarily directly affiliated with the FBE or any other Alfred E. Mann entity, to bring an industry commercialization knowledge base to support the success of an AMI vision in developing the selected university biomedical/biotech technology.
AMI Executive Director
An AMI Executive Director runs the AMI operations. The relevant industry background and experience in the design, development and commercialization of technology and/or pharmaceuticals ensures the successful operations of an AMI. The AMI provides a staff and resources for project management, technology development, market research, and intellectual property analysis and prosecution. University scientists and inventors can bring product concepts to AMI, where initial evaluations are conducted to determine the fit and viability of a project for the AMI. The AMI may also seek technology from the University, and approach investigators for potential AMI projects.
Board Organization
Each AMI is governed by a Board of Directors, whose primary responsibility is approval of the selection of projects from University’s biomedical/biotech portfolio and authorization of project funding. The University's board appointments include key members of university management such as the President, Chancellor, and/or Provost and the heads of Technology Transfer, Deans of Medical School and college of Engineering School, and Biomedical Engineering School, University General Counsel, etc.. The FBE board includes members of the AEMFBE in addition to experienced industry representatives such as CEOs or senior executives of well established medical device, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. The AEMFBE appointed board members bring commercial perspectives to programs for authorization and continued funding so that project selections will yield the intended commercialization results for the AMI. The Board chairman is a among the AEMFBE appointments, and is either Alfred Mann or his designee.
Role and Responsibility of the Board
The Board has many responsibilities including hiring and supervising the AMI Director. The Board also reviews the AMI Director’s performance, approves annual and quarterly budgets authorizing funding for each project phase consistent with the Operating Guidelines and Standard Development Process of the AMI consortium. The Board also oversees the strategic direction of the AMI ensuring project selection is consistent with strategic mission of the AMI.
