Lee Cheatham

Lee Cheatham is recognized as a leader of organizations that effectively translate research innovations into economic value.Over a professional career spanning more than 30 years, he has served both in major research institutions and commercialization organizations. Currently, Dr. Cheatham is founder of I2I Advisors, a research and technology commercialization consultancy serving research organizations worldwide.Previously Dr. Cheatham served as Chief Operating Officer and General Manager of Commercialization for a research institute of one of the largest universities in the United States. While there he launched C-Space, a new initiative focused on dramatically streamlining and improving the commercial translation of scientific innovations and discoveries generated by the institute. The program demonstrated novel methods to identify potential commercial value from early-stage research and to establish risk-based development approaches to address the scientific, regulatory and market uncertainties.Dr. Cheatham also served twelve years as leader of an award-winning technology-based economic development organization chartered to support and perform research leading to commercial innovation. Under his leadership a state-wide angel investment network, a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) assistance program and a major research initiative in nanotechnology were created, all to provide early-stage companies with access to novel technologies and growth capital.Dr. Cheatham has led major research and development organizations. These included a computing and analytics research department for a national laboratory and a world-wide product development team for a market-leading software company.As a researcher and systems developer Dr. Cheatham has led project teams to develop deployed computing systems for use in emergency response, environmental remediation and intelligence operations. He also led a major development program intended to deploy an approved medical device for large scale public health application based on novel biomarkers.Dr. Cheatham received his PhD in electrical engineering from Carnegie-Mellon University. Dr. Cheatham has also served on numerous boards for local and national professional, arts and educational organizations.

Lee Cheatham is recognized as a leader of organizations that effectively translate research innovations into economic value.

Over a professional career spanning more than 30 years, he has served both in major research institutions and commercialization organizations. Currently, Dr. Cheatham is founder of I2I Advisors, a research and technology commercialization consultancy serving research organizations worldwide.

Previously Dr. Cheatham served as Chief Operating Officer and General Manager of Commercialization for a research institute of one of the largest universities in the United States. While there he launched C-Space, a new initiative focused on dramatically streamlining and improving the commercial translation of scientific innovations and discoveries generated by the institute. The program demonstrated novel methods to identify potential commercial value from early-stage research and to establish risk-based development approaches to address the scientific, regulatory and market uncertainties.
Dr. Cheatham also served twelve years as leader of an award-winning technology-based economic development organization chartered to support and perform research leading to commercial innovation. Under his leadership a state-wide angel investment network, a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) assistance program and a major research initiative in nanotechnology were created, all to provide early-stage companies with access to novel technologies and growth capital.

Dr. Cheatham has led major research and development organizations. These included a computing and analytics research department for a national laboratory and a world-wide product development team for a market-leading software company.

As a researcher and systems developer Dr. Cheatham has led project teams to develop deployed computing systems for use in emergency response, environmental remediation and intelligence operations. He also led a major development program intended to deploy an approved medical device for large scale public health application based on novel biomarkers.

Dr. Cheatham received his PhD in electrical engineering from Carnegie-Mellon University. Dr. Cheatham has also served on numerous boards for local and national professional, arts and educational organizations.