Webinar: Innovating Through University Partnerships: Hollister’s Journey to Strategic Collaboration

Event Type: Webinar
Location: Online

Date/Time: 01/15/2026

12 pm - 1 pm

Innovation, Alliances and Collaborations

Discover how Hollister is innovating through strategic partnerships with universities and learn about the organizational structure and vision that drive their collaboration. Hear firsthand about the motivations behind these initiatives, how Adrian and his team align projects with Hollister’s goals, and what it takes to be a successful partner. Explore real wins and learn how ROI is approached, as well as the challenges encountered along the way. Whether you’re interested in building industry-academic collaborations or simply want to stay ahead of future trends, this conversation will provide valuable perspectives and actionable advice for leaders and aspiring change-makers.

Adrian Defante

Senior Lead Scientist

Hollister

Dr. Defante graduated with a Ph.D. in Polymer Science at the University of Akron. He spent time at the National Institute Standards of Technology collaborating with the pharmaceutical industry to understand manufacturing stability of monoclonal antibodies. Currently, he is a Sr. Lead Scientist at Hollister Inc. an employee owned company, based in Libertyville, IL focused on delivering medical products in ostomy and continence care. Our Mission is to make life more rewarding and dignified for those who use our products and services. At Hollister, Dr. Defante has enabled the development of a University Academic Ecosystem where he leverages his technical expertise to innovate new products concepts, scout for new technologies, and mentor students to solve real world problems.. In his spare time, he films episodes of Chemists in the Kitchen, an effort led by LabX of the National Academy of Sciences.