Dedric Carter named vice president for commercialization and translational advancement at UNC Health
Carter, who has led record-breaking innovation growth at Carolina since 2023, will advance medical and health care commercialization and entrepreneurship across the UNC School of Medicine and UNC Health system.
Dedric A. Carter, vice chancellor for innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development and chief innovation officer at UNC-Chapel Hill, has been named vice president for commercialization and translational advancement at the University of North Carolina Health Care System, effective Dec. 8.
In this system-wide leadership role, Carter will accelerate the translation of medical research breakthroughs into clinical applications to improve patient care not only across UNC Health’s network of hospitals and clinics, but throughout North Carolina and beyond. In partnership with key stakeholders, he will develop commercialization strategies for the UNC School of Medicine and UNC Health system, forge partnerships between researchers, clinicians and industry leaders, advise inventors and entrepreneurs, and expand access to impactful cutting-edge solutions.
Carter’s transition to UNC Health builds on his proven track record of transforming research discoveries into real-world health and economic impact, enabling him to focus on medical and healthcare commercialization and entrepreneurship – areas of critical importance to North Carolina’s research economy and patient care.
Since joining Carolina in 2023, Carter has directed Innovate Carolina and provided the strategic vision to advance and build a stronger, more cohesive innovation pipeline at the University. During his tenure, UNC-Chapel Hill-affiliated startups and commercialization activities generated nearly $8 billion in economic impact across North Carolina.
He also led pan-University collaboration through strategic partnerships with the Carolina Angel Network, Innovation Hubs, the Eshelman Institute for Innovation, the Institute for Convergent Science and the NC Collaboratory, translating foundational research and classroom knowledge into real-world impact through commercialization, startups, and partnerships.
Under Carter’s leadership, Carolina climbed 32 spots in the National Academy of Inventors Top 100 Worldwide Universities rankings – the largest single-year jump in the University’s history. He also established UNC-Chapel Hill’s chapter of the National Academy of Inventors to support and celebrate the achievements of inventors within the University community.
Carter also guided the creation of the UNC Innovation Impact Framework, a bold 10-year strategic approach designed to drive economic growth and improve lives across North Carolina and beyond. Developed in collaboration with partners across the University, this framework strengthens Carolina’s position as a national leader in innovation and innovation-based economic development, laying out a unified vision to build, support, elevate, engage and nurture innovation that serves the public good.
Jackie Quay, interim executive director of Innovate Carolina and the director of licensing and innovation support in the UNC Office of Technology Commercialization, will provide interim leadership for the areas of innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development following Carter’s departure.
