Donovan |
In her new role, Donovan will help advance the Decade of Discovery through her extensive background in science and the medical technology industry. She will implement the initiative’s strategic plan as well as establish a scientific advisory board and develop corporate partnerships for tracked research. Donovan will work closely with program directors and project teams to create milestones for their work and provide guidance on scientific and corporate alliances.
“It’s an honor to be the newest member of the Decade team and to play a role in this unique research partnership between the University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic,” said Donovan. “I am eager to leverage my experience and, working with the team, to make a difference in the fight against diabetes.”
Most recently, Donovan served as vice president of Therapy R&D (research and development) for Medtronic Corporate Ventures and New Therapies. She spent more than 20 years with Medtronic Inc. and has 15 years of experience in research and development in the biotechnology, drug delivery and medical device sectors. She has authored numerous medical publications, been granted more than a dozen patents and received accolades including the Bakken Award, Medtronic’s highest technical honor for significant contributions to the corporation, the biomedical industry, customers and patients.
Donovan was a postdoctoral fellow in biochemistry at the University of Minnesota, holds a Ph.D. in pharmacology from the University of Washington in Seattle and a B.A. in chemistry and Russian from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn. She has served as interim executive director of the Medical Device Innovation Consortium, is currently on the board of directors of LifeScience Alley and is a trustee of Macalester College.
“Maura personifies our commitment to combine and direct the best of industry and academia toward a transformative goal in diabetes,” said David Etzwiler, Decade executive director. “Minnesota is well-positioned to rightfully claim its place as the diabetes laboratory for the world and Maura is the person we needed to help make that happen.”
Donovan joins Etzwiler and program leaders Betsy Seaquist, M.D., president-elect of the American Diabetes Association and endocrinologist at the University of Minnesota; and Steve Smith, M.D., endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic.
Vance Opperman, president and CEO of Key Investment Inc., and CEO and general counsel of MSP Communications, serves as co-chair of the Decade Oversight Committee, along with former Minnesota State Supreme Court Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz. He credited Donovan with a unique ability to “bridge the scientific and business worlds,” which is critical to the goals of the Decade.
The Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics, formed in 2003, is a collaborative venture among the Mayo Clinic, University of Minnesota and State of Minnesota with the goal of positioning Minnesota as a world leader in biotechnology and biomedical research that improves health and saves lives while offering economic advantages to the state.