John Swartley: A Career Defined by Innovation and Tech Transfer

Dr. John S. Swartley, MBA, PhD, serves as the Chief Innovation Officer at the University of Pennsylvania, where he leads the institution’s wide-reaching innovation agenda across multiple sectors, including AI, fintech, medtech, and life sciences. Collaborating with Penn’s leadership, deans, and external partners, Swartley ensures that Penn remains a global leader in technology development, translation, and commercialization. Before this role, Swartley spent nearly a decade as Associate Vice Provost for Research and Managing Director of the Penn Center for Innovation (PCI), where he led efforts in new product development, corporate partnerships, tech licensing, and launching new ventures based on Penn’s research.

Prior to joining Penn in 2007, Dr. Swartley served as Senior Vice President and General Partner of BCM Technologies (BCMT), the venture capital investment subsidiary of Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Swartley joined BCMT in 2003 from the Yale University Office of Cooperative Research, where he was Associate Director of the Medical Campus Office. Over his career, he has facilitated thousands of commercialization agreements, generating nearly $5 billion in licensing income and research funding, and overseen the creation of hundreds of university spinouts, contributing billions in capital. He holds a B.S. in Biology from Bates College, an MBA from Emory University, and a PhD in Microbial & Molecular Genetics from Emory.

Building a Foundation at Yale

Swartley’s passion for tech transfer ignited at Yale, where he saw firsthand how academic research could spark entrepreneurial ventures. During his time there, Yale shifted its approach, moving beyond licensing intellectual property to actively fostering the creation of companies around groundbreaking research. This new focus left a lasting impression on Swartley, and he carried this philosophy into every aspect of his career.

At Yale, he learned that tech transfer was not just about patenting inventions or licensing them to the industry, but about creating an ecosystem where researchers and entrepreneurs could come together to build companies based on university research. As Swartley reflects, “True innovation happens when academia, industry, and entrepreneurs come together to bring research to life.” This perspective became central to his approach, which would later shape his work at Penn.

Transition to Penn: Focusing on Company Creation

Swartley’s next chapter began when he was recruited to Penn, where he was appointed Managing Director of PCI. His unique ability to connect academia with industry, along with his visionary focus on company creation, made him an ideal fit for leading Penn’s innovation ecosystem.

At Penn, Swartley worked alongside pioneers in gene and cell therapies, such as Dr. James Wilson and Dr. Carl June, witnessing groundbreaking developments in the field. These early-stage innovations reinforced his belief that university-driven tech transfer and company creation were key to transforming healthcare. He recognized that Penn had the potential to become a leader in these emerging therapies, despite a tragic chapter in the university’s history.

Penn's Commitment to Advanced Therapies

In the wake of the tragic death of Jesse Gelsinger in 1999 during a gene therapy clinical trial at Penn, many institutions hesitated to continue research in gene therapy. However, Penn remained committed to the field, doubling down on its efforts and positioning itself as a leader in advancing new treatments. As Swartley puts it, “While others were stepping back, Penn saw this as a call to push forward. We knew the potential of these therapies and were determined to overcome the challenges.”

One of the major breakthroughs came through the work of Dr. Carl June and his pioneering development of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell (CAR T) therapy, an advanced cancer treatment that modifies a patient’s immune cells to attack cancer. This innovation would ultimately lead to the first FDA-approved cell therapy for cancer, opening a new chapter in medical treatment.

Dr. June's CAR T-cell therapy is a powerful example of Penn’s continued commitment to advancing gene therapies. This immunotherapy, which modifies a patient’s T-cells to recognize and attack cancer cells, has become a game changer in cancer treatment. As Dr. Swartley emphasizes, “CAR T is the perfect example of how Penn’s commitment to innovation and its deep collaboration with researchers and clinicians can lead to life-changing breakthroughs.”

A Vision for Company Creation

Swartley’s vision at Penn mirrored the company-creation mindset he honed at Yale. He advocated for an approach where university research was developed into real-world companies, rather than merely focusing on patents and licensing. As he notes, “The future of technology transfer is not just about licensing ideas, but about building companies that change the world.” Under his leadership, PCI became one of the nation’s top tech transfer offices, launching hundreds of spinouts and securing millions in funding and licensing deals. Companies like Spark Therapeutics and Passage Bio, which have made significant strides in gene therapy, were among the success stories from Swartley’s approach.

A Legacy of Collaboration and Impact

What sets Swartley apart is his dedication to collaboration between academia, industry, and entrepreneurs. He understood that innovation thrives when all stakeholders are aligned and working together toward a common goal. At Penn, he broke down barriers between academic researchers, industry leaders, and venture capitalists to transform research into real-world solutions that improve lives.

Swartley’s leadership has been instrumental in elevating Penn’s reputation as a global leader in tech transfer, particularly in the commercialization of next-generation technologies such as mRNA vaccines. Penn’s involvement in the development of the COVID-19 vaccine, a groundbreaking effort that changed the course of the pandemic, is a testament to Swartley’s vision and impact.

Continuing the Legacy of Innovation and Leadership

As Chief Innovation Officer at Penn, Swartley remains at the forefront of technology transfer and innovation, helping to launch companies in high-growth fields like AI, fintech, medtech, cell and gene therapy, cancer research, and vaccines. His work has cemented Penn’s position as a leader in the global biotech and innovation sectors.

Swartley’s career has been one of not just supporting innovation, but actively driving it. By focusing on company creation rather than traditional tech transfer, he has reshaped how universities and research institutions approach commercialization, leaving a lasting mark on both Penn’s innovation ecosystem and the broader biotech and tech landscape.

Through his leadership, countless innovations have been realized, improving patient outcomes and advancing life sciences. Swartley’s commitment to fostering collaboration and transforming research into tangible, life-changing applications continues to make a profound impact on the future of healthcare and technology.