Universities Allied for Essential Medicines (UAEM) is an international organization founded on the idea that universities have an opportunity and a responsibility to improve global access to public health goods. UAB attracts over $400 million annually in external research funding and ranks consistently in the top 25 universities nationally in funding from the National Institutes of Health. UAEM's student-run UAB chapter is working locally to facilitate change in our school's technology transfer practices by fostering grassroots support among students and faculty and by cultivating a productive relationship with the UAB Research Foundation.  In addition, our chapter works to raise awareness on the burden of disease in the developing world.