In August, Acadia Pharmaceuticals, based in San Diego, acquired the UT Dallas startup company and will move the drug through its remaining clinical development. From Lab to Business WorldRodriguez’s passion for entrepreneurship began shortly after he arrived at UT Dallas to complete a master’s degree in biomedical engineering. “I began looking into what it would take to commercialize that technology,” Rodriguez said. While brainstorming with an advisor about a pitch for the school’s 2014 Business Idea Competition, he learned that two UT Dallas faculty members were working on non-opioid pain relief. Rodriguez touted the “forward-thinking” programs and resources at UT Dallas that help students and faculty develop startups.