An alumna of the class of 1972 writes, "The MIT Licensing Office molds the ideas and energy of MIT's culture of discovery into scientific/technology products for the real world economy. While many entrepreneur alumni/ae created businesses over the past 150 years, this MIT patent office and "incubator" helps the -2 stage ideas of budding MIT entrepreneurs and researchers get through the management selection and business planning to become a business.

"Since 1986, Ms. Lita (Donnelly Markley) Nelsen '64 Chemical Engineering has leveraged technology transfer to help create innovative businesses based on some of the most exciting findings of the MIT Community. A degree from Sloan, experience with bio startups outside of the Ivory Tower, and more has made this Director a leader in growing and spreading the intellectual and technological wealth of MIT.

"Lita Nelsen was chosen by the Massachusetts Society for Medical Research (MSMR) as a 2007 Biomedical Research Leader. She was recognized by the MSMR board of directors for the depth of her contributions to biomedical research in the state and the entire region. Nelsen’s award cites “Her immeasurable contribution to the vitality of biomedical research in Massachusetts and beyond.”In 2009, she was named a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for her work in innovation and technology transfer in the United Kingdom."