BYU and BioUtah Connect Utah’s Life Sciences Industry at Annual Networking Lunch

August 7, 2026

BioUtah and BYU’s College of Life Sciences hosted the annual BYU/BioUtah Networking Lunch on August 7 at BYU’s Life Sciences Building in Provo. Nearly 100 people attended out of more than 100 registrants, bringing together life sciences companies from across the state with BYU’s research and tech transfer community.

The lunch is one piece of an ongoing partnership between BioUtah and BYU’s College of Life Sciences and Technology Transfer Office, which also co-present the annual Entrepreneur & Investor Life Sciences Summit each spring. Events like this one give Utah life sciences companies a direct line to BYU’s faculty, researchers, and the university’s tech transfer resources — a small but steady piece of how BioUtah connects the state’s industry with academic research and talent.

The program opened with updates on research underway across BYU’s life sciences departments and an overview of the resources available to industry through the university. Mike Stark, associate dean of BYU’s College of Life Sciences, and David Brown, director of BYU’s Technology Transfer Office, spoke about that research and the pathways companies have for connecting with campus resources, from faculty collaborations to licensing university technology. Laura Bridgewater, dean of the College of Life Sciences, welcomed attendees on behalf of the college.

Seth Olson, a regulatory attorney with Kirton McConkie, delivered the event’s keynote. Olson previously served as FDA regulatory counsel at the agency’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, and has also practiced regulatory law at Hogan Lovells and Latham & Watkins.

The rest of the lunch was open networking, giving companies time to connect directly with BYU faculty, researchers, and tech transfer staff.

Thanks to BYU’s College of Life Sciences and Technology Transfer Office for hosting, and to Seth Olson for the keynote. We look forward to next year’s lunch.