Most neurosurgery classes teach students about clinical symptoms or surgical techniques. A new class offered this spring will help students take the next step -- turning their own ideas for treating disease into a business.

Called “From Science to Business,” the course offers medical, business, engineering and law graduate students a chance to generate and develop business ideas. Vera Kallmeyer, MD, PhD, a consulting professor in neurosurgery and one of the course instructors, said the students will work in teams to evaluate solutions to unmet medical needs. These solutions may be generated by the students or could be real-life projects with biotech firms.

“The goal is getting an idea to a position where you can make the decision whether or not to write a business plan,” she said.

Student teams will pair up with mentors, including venture capitalists, local business leaders, lawyers or scientists, who have created successful start-ups in the medical field.

Although the course is offered through the neurosurgery department, Kallmeyer said student projects can fall anywhere within the field of medical sciences. “The diligence and business issues are generally the same whether you deal with neurological or other diseases,” she said.