UNeMed releases 2025 Annual Report

October 27, 2025 Comments (0) News

OMAHA, Nebraska (October 27, 2025)—UNeMed released last week its 2025 annual report, detailing key metrics, highlights and notable achievements during the fiscal year ending in 2025.

The report leans on a design reminiscent of the classic artistic style used to promote U.S. National Parks in 1930s and 1940s. The artistic theme helps illustrate recent successes and initiatives while also promoting UNeMed’s recent move into the Omaha Catalyst building as one of the charter tenants at the new facility.

Success stories highlight in the annual report include reports detailing the continued growth and advancement of UNeMed startups, Automated Assessments, University Medical Devices, RespirAI and Virtual Incision.

Automate Assessments announced earlier this year that it acquire FDA approval for it’s handheld device. The device helps surgeons determine the overall health of patients about to undergo surgery, potentially identifying high-risk patients before they present unexpected complications during a procedure.

University Medical Devices produces MicroWash, a new nasal sample collection kit that eliminates the need for nasal swabs when testing for highly infectious diseases. The sample kit launched as a product available on the open market earlier this year.

RespirAI announced a successful fundraising round as it build toward seeking FDA approval. RespirAI is making a wearable device that promises to predict the sudden flareup of potential deadly symptoms associated with COPD. RespirAI is based on a technology developed through a UNMC and UNO collaboration.

Virtual Incision also made several headlines earlier this year for securing FDA approval and landing in a national publication’s list of most innovative tech companies in the world. Virtual Incision is a surgical robotics company built on a collaboration between UNMC and UNL.

The annual report also looks back at several other successful initiatives, including the annual Innovation Awards ceremony, the launch of a new online new invention notification submission portal, the University’s continued standing in the world for intellectual property and its annual Summer Chill event.

Finally, the 2025 annual report presents core metrics for all of UNeMed’s activities.

The complete annual report can be viewed online, and printed copies are also available. Contact UNeMed to receive a free printed copy.

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Innovation Week wraps tonight with launch party

October 25, 2025 Comments (0) Innovation Week, News, Success Stories

OMAHA, Nebraska (October 25, 2025)—Innovation Week concludes tonight with a startup launch party for FamilyRoom.health, a new company built by UNMC nurse, Breanna Hetland, PhD.

Hosted by UNeMed, the technology transfer and commercialization office for UNMC and UNO, the 19th annual Innovation Week celebrates and recognizes the world-class research and discovery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Innovation Week 2025 CalendarThe party will be at the Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center in Council Bluffs at 4-7 p.m. The evening will feature more information about the growing startup company, along with art, music and refreshments.

Attendees will have the opportunity to view a never-before-seen collection from Omaha-artist Eduardo Gardea, accompanied by live music performed by a UNO jazz ensemble.

Familyroom.health is a digital platform dedicated to creating healing moments for families experiencing critical care. FamilyRoom’s innovative, free solution offers practical tools, resources, and community support to help the millions of family caregivers better manage communications during critical moments, such as those when patients are in intensive care units.

To register and learn more about the launch party, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/burden-bloom-tickets-1664576074849.

Learn more Innovation Week and all the events on UNeMed’s Innovation Week page.

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Ambassadors program announced at 2025 Innovation Awards

October 24, 2025 Comments (0) Innovation Week, News

On display are special awards that were presented during UNeMed's 2025 Innovation Awards.

OMAHA, Nebraska (October 23, 2025)—UNeMed held its annual gala celebrating innovation and discovery at the University of Nebraska with its 18th annual Innovation Awards banquet Wednesday night at the Scott Conference Center on UNO’s Aksarben Campus.

The Awards ceremony represented the pinnacle of UNeMed’s Innovation Week, a series of events designed to inspire, support and recognize the many contributions of all University personnel who contributed to innovative ideas, new technologies or entrepreneurial ventures during the previous fiscal year.

The evening was highlighted by the presentation of several key awards and the unveiling of a new cohort of campus advisers, the Innovation Ambassadors.

UNeMed president and CEO Michael Dixon, PhD, unveiled 13 Innovation Ambassadors during the short ceremony, announcing the program as an elite group of University leaders and experienced faculty inventors empowered to act as mentors to colleagues unfamiliar or skeptical of the technology transfer and commercialization process. UNeMed also created the Innovation Ambassador program to advocate for the services, benefits, usefulness, necessity and professionalism of the University’s technology transfer and commercialization office, Dr. Dixon said.

The first cohort of Innovation Ambassadors are: Hamid Band, MD, PhD; Beth Beam, PhD, RN; Gregory Bennett, DMD; Benson Edagawa, PhD; Robin Gandhi, PhD; Jason Johanning, MD, MS, FACS; Brian Knarr, PhD; Bethany Lowndes, PhD; Thanh Nguyen, PhD, MSN, FNP-C; Ryan Riskowski, PhD; Ka-Chun (Joseph) Siu, PhD; Paul Trippier, PhD; and Justin Weeks, PhD.

UNMC's IDU director, Bethany Lowndes (left), is inducted into UNeMed's Innovation Ambassadors program in a "Grey Coat Ceremony" with licensing associate Nathan Hatch during UNeMed's 2025 Innovation Awards ceremony on Oct. 22 at the Scott Conference Center in Omaha.
UNO biomechanics researcher Brian Knarr (right) is inducted into UNeMed's Innovation Ambassadors program in a "Grey Coat Ceremony" with licensing associate Nathan Hatch during UNeMed's 2025 Innovation Awards ceremony on Oct. 22 at the Scott Conference Center in Omaha.
UNMC surgeon Jason Johanning (left) is inducted into UNeMed's Innovation Ambassadors program in a "Grey Coat Ceremony" with licensing associate Nathan Hatch during UNeMed's 2025 Innovation Awards ceremony on Oct. 22 at the Scott Conference Center in Omaha.
UNO IS&T preofessor Robin Gandhi (left) is inducted into UNeMed's Innovation Ambassadors program in a "Grey Coat Ceremony" with licensing associate Nathan Hatch during UNeMed's 2025 Innovation Awards ceremony on Oct. 22 at the Scott Conference Center in Omaha.
UNMC phamracology and expermental neurisciience professor Benson Edagwa (left) is inducted into UNeMed's Innovation Ambassadors program in a "Grey Coat Ceremony" with licensing associate Nathan Hatch during UNeMed's 2025 Innovation Awards ceremony on Oct. 22 at the Scott Conference Center in Omaha.
UNO physics professor Ryan Riskowski (right) is inducted into UNeMed's Innovation Ambassadors program in a "Grey Coat Ceremony" with licensing associate Nathan Hatch during UNeMed's 2025 Innovation Awards ceremony on Oct. 22 at the Scott Conference Center in Omaha.
Clinical psychologist Justin Weeks (left) is inducted into UNeMed's Innovation Ambassadors program in a "Grey Coat Ceremony" with licensing associate Nathan Hatch during UNeMed's 2025 Innovation Awards ceremony on Oct. 22 at the Scott Conference Center in Omaha.
UNMC nursing professor Beth Beam (left) is inducted into UNeMed's Innovation Ambassadors program in a "Grey Coat Ceremony" with licensing associate Nathan Hatch during UNeMed's 2025 Innovation Awards ceremony on Oct. 22 at the Scott Conference Center in Omaha.
UNMC emergency medicine professor Thanh Nguyen (left) is inducted into UNeMed's Innovation Ambassadors program in a "Grey Coat Ceremony" with licensing associate Nathan Hatch during UNeMed's 2025 Innovation Awards ceremony on Oct. 22 at the Scott Conference Center in Omaha.
A crowd of 220 turned out to network with colleagues, university leadership and UNeMed staff who honored all UNMC and UNO inventors that submitted new inventions, licensed a technology or were issued a U.S. patent during the previous fiscal year. In addition, special awards were presented for the Startup of the Year, Faculty Entrepreneur, Innovation Champion, Most Promising New Invention, and Emerging Inventor.

The highlight of the evening was the Awards presentation. Patent awardees were presented commemorative plaques, licensees were presented with glass trophies and new invention submitters were rewarded with unique T-shirts and pennants. The T-shirts and pennants are only presented to inventors who submit new inventions. Inventors were also given lapel pins that can be affixed to their pennants to denote the number of inventions they have disclosed.

UNMC professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences, Ashok Puri, delivers brief remarks in accepting the Emerging Inventor Award during UNeMed’s 2025 Innovation Awards ceremony on Oct. 22 at the Scott Conference Center in Omaha.

Ashok Puri, MBBS, MS, a professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at UNMC, was named the 2025 Emerging Inventor. His work focuses on using artificial intelligence to create more robust and accurate diagnostic tools for several medical conditions. He is also a co-founder of a startup company, Deep Heath Diagnostics, which is built on his innovative algorithms.

During his brief acceptance speech, Dr. Puri, who began his career as a clinician for more than 20 years, addressed his second act as a researcher, inventor and entrepreneur: “If there’s one message to clinicians I would share,” he said, “If I can do it, anyone also can.”

The Most Promising New Invention of 2025 was the Cardiac Cath Lab Mentor, developed by UNMC cardiologist Edward O’Leary, MD. A professor in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the director of UNMC’s Cardiovascular Catheterization Laboratory, Dr. O’Leary’s invention is a software solution to help better train medical students on how to interpret coronary angiograms. His innovation is also the basis of a new startup company, Aprendo Cardiovascular Solutions.

UNMC cardiologist Edward O’Leary accepts the Most Promising New Invention award from UNeMed CEO and President Michael Dixon during UNeMed’s 2025 Innovation Awards ceremony on Oct. 22 at the Scott Conference Center in Omaha.

“This is not something I have done,” Dr. O’Leary said. “This is something we have done. It was truly a team effort.”

The Faculty Entrepreneur Award was presented to serial inventor Thanh Nguyen, PhD, for his work in building two growing startups: University Medical Devise and HemaGlobal. With more than 91 inventions to his credit and the most recent recipient of the prestigious President’s Excellence Award for Faculty Intellectual Property Innovation and Commercialization, Dr. Nguyen is a professor in UNMC’s Department of Emergency Medicine.

“Anyone who has been down the entrepreneur path knows this is a team sport,” Dr. Nguyen said. “I’d like to recognize Dr. Michael Wadman (Emergency Medicine Chair) for what he has done. Not only for his support, but also for building a culture of innovation that no one has ever seen before.”

University Medical Devices is currently selling a new nasal sample collection kit that eliminates the need for painful swabs that test for infectious diseases. HemaGlobal is marketing a new device that simplifies the process of successfully collecting a blood smear sample.

The Startup of the Year award was presented to Nimrod Bin-Nun, CEO of RespirAI, a company built on a collaboration between UNMC clinicians and UNO’s biomechanics department. RespirAI has secured more than $4.5 million in funding to help launch a wearable device company that hopes to solve the critical problem of detecting the sudden and potentially fatal flareup of symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

“After four years of collaboration and 20 years as an entrepreneur,” Bin-Nun said, “Nebraska, and Omaha specifically, is an amazing place to build a company.”

The 2025 Faculty Entrepreneur Award recipient, Thanh Nguyen, accepts his award with brief remarks during UNeMed’s 2025 Innovation Awards ceremony, on Oct. 22 at the Scott Conference Center in Omaha.

Finally, UNeMed presented Invest Nebraska with the Innovation Champion award for its tireless support in helping build the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and several University startups in the last 25 years.

The 2025 Innovation Awards was one of several events for Innovation Week, which began on Monday with a “Kickoff” event. Innovation Week continued Thursday evening with Idea Pub: Startup Showcase  in the Forge Event Hall in the Omaha Catalyst building on Saddle Creek Road.

The showcase featured several pitch presentations highlighting Nebraska medical innovations that have become the basis for new startup companies.

A panel discussion with members of the National Institutes of Health had been planned for Friday but that has been postponed due to the ongoing government shutdown. The discussion was expected to cover how to secure federal SBIR/STTR grant funding. UNeMed will make an announcement when that event is rescheduled.

UNMC Emergency Medicine professor and former ER nurse Thanh Nguyen (left) accepts the Faculty Innovator Award from UNeMed CEO and President Michael Dixon during UNeMed's 2025 Innovation Awards ceremony on Oct. 22 at the Scott Conference Center in Omaha.
Invest Nebraska's Donna Kush and Dan Hoffman accept the Innovation Chmapons AWards from UNeMed CEO and President Michael Dixon (right) during UNeMed's 2025 Innovation Awards ceremony, on Oct. 22 at the Scott Conference Center in Omaha.
From left are RespirAI's Jonell Tempero, RespirAI's Nimrod Bin-Nun, Omaha Chamber of Commerce's Alec Gornyski, and Invest Nebraska's Dan Hoffman during UNeMed's 2025 Innovation Awards ceremony on Oct. 22 at the Scott Conference Center in Omaha.
UNMC professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences Ashok Puri (left) accepts the Emerging Inventor award from UNeMed CEO and President Michael Dixon during UNeMed's 2025 Innovation Awards ceremony on Oct. 22 at the Scott Conference Center in Omaha.
UNMC Vice Chancellor for Research Ken Bayles chats with guests during UNeMed's 2025 Innovation Awards ceremony on Oct. 22 at the Scott Conference Center in Omaha.
UNMC inventor John Bertoni during UNeMed's 2025 Innovation Awards ceremony on Oct. 22 at the Scott Conference Center in Omaha.
RespirAI's Nimrod Bin-Nun and Jonell Tempero acept the Startup of the Year award from UNeMed President and CEO Michael Dixon during UNeMed's 2025 Innovation Awards ceremony, on Oct. 22 at the Scott Conference Center in Omaha.
UNeMed President and CEOMichael Dixon (center) chats with guests during UNeMed's 2025 Innovation Awards ceremony on Oct. 22 at the Scott Conference Center in Omaha.
UNeMed President and CEO Michael Dixon shows off the exclusive T-shirts available only to University of Nebraska inventors during UNeMed's 2025 Innovation Awards ceremony on Oct. 22 at the Scott Conference Center in Omaha.

 

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Nebraska innovations on display at Startup Showcase

October 23, 2025 Comments (0) Innovation Week, News

OMAHA, Nebraska (October 23, 2025)—Innovation Week continues today with Idea Pub: Startup Showcase at 4-6 p.m. at the Omaha Catalyst Forge Event Hall.

Hosted by UNeMed, the technology transfer and commercialization office for UNMC and UNO, the 19th annual Innovation Week celebrates and recognizes the world-class research and discovery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Innovation Week 2025 CalendarStartup Showcase is sponsored in partnership with UNeTech Institute and NUTech Ventures. The event will feature several short presentations featuring new companies built around Nebraska innovations in healthcare, including:

  • Aquablade
  • Deep Health Diagnostics
  • Grasshopper Health
  • Mission Accomplished ADHD App
  • Neurosound LLC
  • Rheam Medical

Innovation Week will continue at noon on Friday with a panel discussion hosted by the National Institutes of Health. Five panelists from the NIH will discuss non-dilutive funding opportunities for academic researchers and innovators interested in pursuing the small business grant program. The discussion will be a virtual event, held via Teams. To register go here. Nebraska researchers are also encouraged to pre-book one-on-one meetings with NIH panelists here.

Innovation Week concludes on Saturday with startup launch party for FamilyRoom.health, a new company built by UNMC nurse, Breanna Hetland, PhD. The party will be at the Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center in Council Bluffs at 4-7 p.m. The evening will feature more information about the growing startup company, along with art, music and refreshments. To register and learn more about the launch party, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/burden-bloom-tickets-1664576074849.

All events are free and open to the public. Further details can be found on UNeMed’s Innovation Week page.

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SBIR/STTR grant seminar is postponed

October 22, 2025 Comments (0) News

OMAHA, Nebraska (October 22, 2025)—Due to the ongoing government shutdown, UNeMed is postponing the planned panel discussion about securing federal SBIR/STTR grants with National Institutes of Health staffers.

Originally scheduled for Friday, October 24, the hour-long discussion was set to begin at noon.

UNeMed still hopes to host the event on a future date, and will announce those plans as soon as possible on UNeMed.com.

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Innovation Awards are tonight

October 22, 2025 Comments (0) Innovation Week, News

OMAHA, Nebraska (October 22, 2025)—UNeMed’s 2025 Innovation Week will reach it’s high-water mark tonight with the annual Research Innovation Awards Banquet at 5-8 p.m.

Hosted by UNeMed, the technology transfer and commercialization office for UNMC and UNO, the 19th annual Innovation Week celebrates and recognizes the world-class research and discovery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Innovation Week 2025 CalendarThe Innovation Awards are invite-only and will be at the Scott Conference Center, at 6450 Pine Street.

The Awards will honor all UNMC and UNO inventors who disclosed a new invention, received an issued U.S. patent, or had their technology licensed during the previous fiscal year. Special awards for Emerging Inventor, Faculty Entrepreneur, Innovation Champion, Startup of the Year and the Most Promising New Invention of 2025 will also be presented.

Innovation Week will continue tomorrow evening with Idea Pub: Startup Showcase at 4-6 p.m. at the Omaha Catalyst Forge Event Hall.

Sponsored in partnership with UNeTech Institute and NUTech Ventures, the Startup Showcase will feature several short presentations featuring new companies built around Nebraska innovations in healthcare. The event is open and free to all, but guests are asked to register here.

A panel discussion hosted by the National Institutes of Health is set for Friday, Oct. 24. Five panelists from the NIH will discuss non-dilutive funding opportunities for academic researchers and innovators interested in pursuing the small business grant program. The discussion will be a virtual event, held via Teams. To register go here. Nebraska researchers are also encouraged to pre-book one-on-one meetings with NIH panelists here.

Finally, Innovation Week concludes on Saturday with startup launch party for FamilyRoom.health, a new company built by UNMC nurse, Breanna Hetland, PhD. The party will be at the Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center in Council Bluffs at 4-7 p.m. The evening will feature more information about the growing startup company, along with art, music and refreshments. To register and learn more about the launch party, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/burden-bloom-tickets-1664576074849.

All events are free and open to the public, but the Awards reception is by invitation only. Further details can be found on UNeMed’s Innovation Week page.

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Innovation Week continues with Inventors Grove

October 21, 2025 Comments (0) Innovation Week, News


OMAHA, Nebraska (October 21, 2025)—UNeMed’s 2025 Innovation Week continues this morning with Inventors Grove at 7-8:30 a.m.

Hosted by UNeMed, the technology transfer and commercialization office for UNMC and UNO, the 19th annual Innovation Week celebrates and recognizes the world-class research and discovery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Innovation Week 2025 CalendarSponsored by UNeMed and the Nebraska Research Initiative, Inventors Grove is a weekly support group, open to anyone who might have an idea for a new invention but don’t know what comes next. People are encourage to drop in at any time to meet experienced inventors and mentors who will be there to provide guidance, fellowship, support and inspiration to anyone curious about navigating the innovation process.

Innovation Week will continue tomorrow evening with the Innovation Awards at the Scott Conference Center, at 6450 Pine Street. An invitation-only event, the Awards will honor all UNMC and UNO inventors who disclosed a new invention, received an issued U.S. patent, or had their technology licensed during the previous fiscal year. Special awards for Emerging Inventor, Faculty Entrepreneur, Innovation Champion, Startup of the Year and the Most Promising New Invention of 2025 will also be presented.

Innovation Week will continue Thursday, Oct. 23 with Idea Pub: Startup Showcase at 4-6 p.m. at the Omaha Catalyst Forge Event Hall. Sponsored in partnership with UNeTech Institute and NUTech Ventures, the Startup Showcase will feature several short presentations featuring new companies built around Nebraska innovations in healthcare. The event is open and free to all, but guests are asked to register here.

A panel discussion hosted by the National Institutes of Health is set for Friday, Oct. 24. Five panelists from the NIH will discuss non-dilutive funding opportunities for academic researchers and innovators interested in pursuing the small business grant program. The discussion will be a virtual event, held via Teams. To register go here. Nebraska researchers are also encouraged to pre-book one-on-one meetings with NIH panelists here.

Finally, Innovation Week concludes on Saturday with startup launch party for FamilyRoom.health, a new company built by UNMC nurse, Breanna Hetland, PhD. The party will be at the Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center in Council Bluffs at 4-7 p.m. The evening will feature more information about the growing startup company, along with art, music and refreshments. To register and learn more about the launch party, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/burden-bloom-tickets-1664576074849.

All events are free and open to the public, but the Awards reception is by invitation only. Further details can be found on UNeMed’s Innovation Week page.

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Innovation Week kicks off today

October 20, 2025 Comments (0) Innovation Week, News


OMAHA, Nebraska (October 20, 2025)—UNeMed’s 2025 Innovation Week begins this morning with an open house at 9 a.m. in the Durham Research Center atrium.

Hosted by UNeMed, the technology transfer and commercialization office for UNMC and UNO, the 19th annual Innovation Week celebrates and recognizes the world-class research and discovery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Innovation Week 2025 CalendarToday’s Kick-off event will feature snacks, coffee, T-shirts and other freebies, along with a chance for attendees to meet UNeMed staff.

On Tuesday, Oct. 21, UNeMed and the Nebraska Research Initiative will host Inventors Grove, a weekly support group, at 7-8:30 a.m. People are encouraged to drop in at any time. Experienced inventors will be there to provide guidance, fellowship, support and inspiration to anyone curious about navigating the innovation process.

The Innovation Awards will be held on the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 22, in the Scott Conference Center, at 6450 Pine Street. An invitation-only event, the Awards will honor all UNMC and UNO inventors who disclosed a new invention, received an issued U.S. patent, or had their technology licensed during the previous fiscal year. Special awards for Emerging Inventor, Faculty Entrepreneur, Innovation Champion, Startup of the Year and the Most Promising New Invention of 2025 will also be presented.

Innovation Week will continue on Thursday, Oct. 23 with Idea Pub: Startup Showcase at 4-6 p.m. at the Omaha Catalyst Forge Event Hall. Sponsored in partnership with UNeTech Institute and NUTech Ventures, the Startup Showcase will feature several short presentations featuring new companies built around Nebraska innovations in healthcare. The event is open and free to all, but guests are asked to register here.

A panel discussion hosted by the National Institutes of Health is set for Friday, Oct. 24. Five panelists from the NIH will discuss non-dilutive funding opportunities for academic researchers and innovators interested in pursuing the small business grant program. The discussion will be a virtual event, held via Teams. To register go here. Nebraska researchers are also encouraged to pre-book one-on-one meetings with NIH panelists here.

Finally, Innovation Week concludes on Saturday with startup launch party for FamilyRoom.health, a new company built by UNMC nurse, Breanna Hetland, PhD. The party will be at the Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center in Council Bluffs at 4-7 p.m. The evening will feature more information about the growing startup company, along with art, music and refreshments. To register and learn more about the launch party, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/burden-bloom-tickets-1664576074849.

All events are free and open to the public, but the Awards reception is by invitation only. Further details can be found on UNeMed’s Innovation Week page.

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Learn more about NCITE at next Morning Edition

October 16, 2025 Comments (0) News

OMAHA, Nebraska (October 16, 2025)—The next Idea Pub: Morning Edition will be held on Thursday, Oct. 30, at 9 a.m. in the Catalyst building’s Forge Event Hall.

In a bit of a departure from previous formats, this month’s event will feature an overview of UNO’s groundbreaking work in counterterrorism research, technology and workforce development.

The featured speaker will be Gina Ligon, PhD, founding Director of UNO’s National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology and Education Center or NCITE. She will be joined by Joel Elson, PhD, head of Innovation and Emerging Technology Research Initiatives at NCITE.

Poster for October 30, 2025 Idea Pub: Morning EditionNCITE was featured in local media for developing a new counterterrorism chatbot that secured a U.S. patent and was licensed to a local startup company, Vigiliti.

Idea Pub: Morning Edition will be held in Catalyst Omaha on the western edge of the UNMC campus, on Saddle Creek Road. Free coffee will be provided. Catalyst, a co-sponsor of the event, will also offer complimentary facility tours on a first-come, first-served basis.

Metered parking is available along 46th Street.

The event is set for 9-11 a.m. in the Forge Event Hall on the north end of the building.

UNeMed, the technology transfer and commercialization office for UNMC and UNO, created Morning Edition to help University innovators and entrepreneurs connect and collaborate with colleagues and experts from the venture capital and startup communities.

Morning Edition will also regularly feature “Office Hours” with UNeMed staff and Charlie Cuddy, who co-founded the Nebraska Startup Academy and MOVE Venture Capital. Office Hours creates the opportunity for faculty, students and staff to have one-on-one time with MOVE or UNeMed professionals to discuss new technologies or startup potential.

MOVE is a pre-seed and seed venture capital firm focused on investing in Nebraska technology startup companies. The Nebraska Startup Academy is a mentoring program for startup founders, investors and the local entrepreneurial community with the aim of building Nebraska into “an innovation hub in the Midwest.”

Morning Edition will be held on the final Thursday of every month and will continue to feature guest speakers from the University’s stable of successful and budding startup companies and from Omaha’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The event will provide UNMC and UNO innovators an opportunity to build new partnerships and allies that can help develop their innovative ideas and discoveries into products that help people.

The event is free and open to all, and complimentary coffee will be provided as long as supplies last.

Future planned dates and speakers are:

  • Nov. 20: XRenegades- A Firework Media Studio, LLC
  • Dec. 18: Surgical Simulation Technologies

Morning Edition is part of UNeMed’s “Idea Pub,” a suite of entrepreneurial networking events that includes “Innovations & Libations” and “Startup Showcase.”

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NIH Panel to discuss grant options next week

October 16, 2025 Comments (0) Innovation Week, News

OMAHA, Nebraska (October 16, 2025)—The National Institutes of Health and UNeMed will host a virtual discussion about non-dilutive funding opportunities for academic researchers and innovators next week.
Scheduled as a Teams Meeting on Friday, Oct. 24, the planned panel discussion is titled “NIH SBIR/STTR Funding Opportunities for University of Nebraska Innovators.” The event is part of UNeMed’s annual Innovation Week series of events.

Every year the NIH provides $1.4 billion towards early-stage life science companies. Current NIH program staff will share how those funds can be accessed by innovative Nebraskans through the small business (SBIR/STTR) grant programs. Attendees will hear about scientific priorities and funding opportunities at the following institutes, centers, and offices:

A moderated Q&A session with the speakers will follow presentations. To register, go here.

Attendees are also encouraged to book one-on-one meetings with NIH staff to discuss their projects after the session using this link.

Planned speakers are Adam Sorkin, Saroj Regmi, Hejiao English, Annette Gilchrist, and Stephanie Davis.

Adam Sorkin, M.E.M., M.S.E., P.E. has over a decade of experience championing small business research and development. He previously supported Small Business Programs and intramural technology transfer activities at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Prior to joining NIH, Adam led R&D, strategy, and fundraising efforts of start-ups developing novel regenerative medicine and anti-infective applications. Adam has served as the Small Business Policy Manager in the NIH Small Business Education and Entrepreneurial Development (SEED) Office since 2022.

Saroj Regmi, PhD, is a Program Director at the National Cancer Institute’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Development Center. In his role, he provides oversight, guidance, administers funding, as well as offers networking assistance for small businesses to accelerate the translation of cancer-related technologies. Saroj conducted his postdoctoral work at NIH using CRISPR/Cas9-based approaches to study cellular processes. He received his PhD in molecular and cellular biology from Dartmouth Medical School.

Hejiao English, PhD, is a Small Business Development Specialist in the Office of Research Training and Special Programs (ORTSP), Division of Extramural Activities (DEA), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), NIH. In her current position, Dr. English established, coordinates, and oversees the NIAID Small Business Applicant Assistance Program (AAP) that provides proposal development assistance and guidance to NIAID SBIR/STTR applicants in need. Prior to NIAID, Dr. English was an Invention Development and Marketing Specialist at NCI Technology Transfer Center (TTC), where she conducted portfolio and market landscape analysis for multiple cancer therapeutics, diagnostics, and devices inventions developed by NCI intramural investigators. Dr. English received post-doctoral research training at the Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) in NCI in antibody engineering and cancer immunotherapy. She holds a PhD in Biochemistry from Boston University, School of Medicine, Boston, MA.

Annette Gilchrist, PhD joined NINDS in 2022 where she oversees a portfolio of small business innovative research (SBIR) and small business technology transfer (STTR) projects. Prior to NINDS, Dr. Gilchrist was an Associate Professor at Midwestern University, where she taught pharmacogenomics and medicinal chemistry of anticancer drugs. She co-founded MyGenomeRx, a company that uses the results of at-home genetic tests to identify potential drug-gene interactions. She also co-founded Cue Biotech and Caden Biosciences, companies based on a novel approach to identifying compounds based on their ability to alter the interface between G protein coupled receptors and G proteins. This approach resulted from her postdoctoral work at Northwestern University and the University of Illinois – Chicago and has had multiple patents issued. Dr. Gilchrist received her B.S. in Biology from the University of Central Oklahoma, her M.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Connecticut, and her PhD from the University of Connecticut Health Center in Immunology where she worked on the tyrosine phosphatase PTP1C.

Stephanie Davis, PhD received her B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 2012 from Florida Southern College. She received her M.S. in Medical Sciences (2015) and her PhD in Molecular Pharmacology (2016) from the University of South Florida. Stephanie was a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Kentucky in the Department of Neurology. In addition to her postdoctoral appointment, she also interned part-time with the UK Office of Technology Commercialization from January to July 2019. Before joining the Innovation Office, Stephanie was selected for the 2019-2020 Executive Branch AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellows Program, where she served as a Program Manager in the National Institute on Aging Office of Small Business Research. She has served as the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute Small Business Program Coordinator since December 2020.

Innovation Weeks events are free and open to the public, except the Awards reception, which is by invitation only. Further details about all Innovation Week events can be found on UNeMed’s Innovation Week page.

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Innovation Week begins Oct. 20

September 30, 2025 Comments (0) News

Innovation Week

OMAHA, Nebraska (September 30, 2025)—UNeMed’s annual celebration of innovation and discovery at the University of Nebraska begins on Monday, October 20.

Innovation Week 2025 CalendarHosted by UNeMed, the technology transfer and commercialization office for UNMC and UNO, Innovation Week will enter its 19th year with an open house 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 20, in the Durham Research Center atrium.

Innovation Week’s featured event is the Research Innovation Awards Banquet Wednesday, Oct. 22, at the Scott Conference Center on UNO’s Akasarben Campus.

The week will also feature additional seminars and events designed to enhance innovation and discovery efforts at UNMC and UNO.

All events are free and open to the public, but the Awards banquet is by invitation only. Further details can be found on UNeMed’s Innovation Week page.

Monday’s Kick-off event will feature snacks, coffee, T-shirts and other freebies, along with a chance for attendees to meet UNeMed staff.

Inventors Grove FlyerOn Tuesday, Oct. 21, UNeMed and the Nebraska Research Initiative will host Inventors Grove, weekly meeting that operates like a support group. Open from 7-8:30 a.m., people are encouraged to drop in at any time. It’s open to anyone who might have an idea or new discovery but doesn’t know what to do about it. Experienced inventors will be there to provide guidance, fellowship, support and inspiration to anyone curious about navigating the innovation process.

The week’s main event, the annual Innovation Awards, will be held on the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 22, in the Scott Conference Center, at 6450 Pine Street.

An invitation-only event, the Awards will honor all UNMC and UNO inventors who disclosed a new invention, received an issued U.S. patent, or had their technology licensed during the previous fiscal year. Special awards for Emerging Inventor, Faculty Entrepreneur, Innovation Champion, Startup of the Year and the Most Promising New Invention of 2025 will also be presented.

Innovation Week will continue on Thursday, Oct. 23 with another installment of Idea Pub: Startup Showcase at 4-6 p.m. at the Omaha Catalyst Forge Event Hall.

Sponsored in partnership with UNeTech Institute and NUTech Ventures, the Startup Showcase will feature several short presentations featuring new companies built around Nebraska innovations in healthcare. The event is open and free to all, but guests are asked to register here.

A panel discussion hosted by the National Institutes of Health is set for Friday, Oct. 24. Five panelists from the NIH will discuss non-dilutive funding opportunities for academic researchers and innovators interested in pursuing the small business grant program. The discussion will be a virtual event, held via Teams. To register go here.

Nebraska researchers are also encouraged to pre-book one-on-one meetings with NIH panelists here.

Finally, Innovation Week concludes on Saturday with startup launch party for FamilyRoom.health, a new company built by UNMC nurse, Breanna Hetland, PhD.

The party will be at the Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center in Council Bluffs at 4-7 p.m. The evening will feature more information about the growing startup company, along with art, music and refreshments. To learn more about thee vent and how to register, go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/burden-bloom-tickets-1664576074849.

All events are free and open to the public, but the Awards reception is by invitation only. Further details can be found on UNeMed’s Innovation Week page.

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Vision health startup keys Idea Pub

September 25, 2025 Comments (0) News

OMAHA, Nebraska (September 25, 2025)—Co-founders of a UNMC startup were the featured speakers during the September installment of Idea Pub: Morning Edition.

Ashok Puri

Ashok Puri, MBBS, (left) speaks with a guest during the Sept. 25, 2025, Idea Pub: Morning Edition where he presented brief remarks about Deep Health Health Diagnostics, a company he co-founded with UNMC colleague Ron Krueger, MD.

Ron Krueger, MD, Director of UNMC’s Stanley M. Truhlsen Eye Institute, and Ashok Puri, MBBS, a professor in the Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Department at UNMC, co-founded Deep Health Diagnostics.

Deep Health Diagnostics was established on an innovative approach to more quickly and accurately diagnose a serious eye condition called macular edema. Macular edema is the buildup of fluid in the central part of the retina, and the leading cause of blindness for diabetics and seniors.

The UNMC innovation is an AI approach that would help clinicians better evaluate medical eye scans and imagery. The current standard of care for macular edema is a little trial-by-error. A physician treats the patient with an injection, then waits several weeks to measure the results. Then the physician makes an adjustment and repeats the process until arriving at the most effective approach, which may take months or even years to develop.

In the meantime, the patient’s vision often continues to deteriorate, irreversibly.

The powerful algorithm at Deep Health Diagnostics, however, could change the standard of care to one that might prevent a lot of vision loss.

“We’ve created a way to actually measure and predict and evaluate edema severity, and the effect of treatment,” Puri said.

Morning Edition is UNeMed’s networking event for university innovators, entrepreneurs and startup community members. Catalyst Omaha co-sponsors the event and provides free tours of the spacious facility.

Morning Editions will continue to be a fixture in the Catalyst’s Forge Event Hall, located on the north end of the building. Guided tours will also continue as an added feature.

The next Morning Edition is planned for Thursday, Oct.. 30, 2025, in the Forge Event Hall at 9-11 a.m.

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UNMC startup building a better diagnostic tool headlines next Morning Edition

September 15, 2025 Comments (0) News

OMAHA, Nebraska (September 15, 2025)—The next Idea Pub: Morning Edition will be held on Thursday, Sept. 25, at 9 a.m. in the Catalyst building’s Forge Event Hall.

Ron Krueger, MD, Director of UNMC’s Stanley M. Truhlsen Eye Institute and the CEO of Deep Health Diagnostics, will be the featured speaker. He will deliver a brief description of his startup, which was founded on an innovation from Ashok Puri, MBBS, an assistant professor in UNMC’s ophthalmology and visual sciences department.

Poster for September 25, 2025 Idea Pub: Morning EditionThe core technology at Deep Health Diagnostics uses artificial intelligence to improve the ability of non-expert clinicians in rural and remote areas to more accurately diagnose serious eye conditions. Deep Health Diagnostics also plans to expand its diagnostic abilities beyond retinal exams to include certain cancers and even infectious diseases like COVID.

Idea Pub: Morning Edition will be held in Catalyst Omaha on the western edge of the UNMC campus, on Saddle Creek Road. Free coffee will be provided. Catalyst, a co-sponsor of the event, will also offer complimentary facility tours on a first-come, first-served basis.

Metered parking is available along 46th Street.

The event is set for 9-11 a.m. in the Forge Event Hall on the north end of the building.

UNeMed, the technology transfer and commercialization office for UNMC and UNO, created Morning Edition to help University innovators and entrepreneurs connect and collaborate with colleagues and experts from the venture capital and startup communities.

Morning Edition will also regularly feature “Office Hours” with UNeMed staff and Charlie Cuddy, who co-founded the Nebraska Startup Academy and MOVE Venture Capital. Office Hours creates the opportunity for faculty, students and staff to have one-on-one time with MOVE or UNeMed professionals to discuss new technologies or startup potential.

MOVE is a pre-seed and seed venture capital firm focused on investing in Nebraska technology startup companies. The Nebraska Startup Academy is a mentoring program for startup founders, investors and the local entrepreneurial community with the aim of building Nebraska into “an innovation hub in the Midwest.”

Morning Edition will be held on the final Thursday of every month and will continue to feature guest speakers from the University’s stable of successful and budding startup companies and from Omaha’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The event will provide UNMC and UNO innovators an opportunity to build new partnerships and allies that can help develop their innovative ideas and discoveries into products that help people.

The event is free and open to all, and complimentary coffee will be provided as long as supplies last.

Future planned dates and speakers are:

  • Oct. 30: UNO NCITE
  • Nov. 20: XRenegades- A Firework Media Studio, LLC
  • Dec. 18: Surgical Simulation Technologies

Morning Edition is part of UNeMed’s “Idea Pub,” a suite of entrepreneurial networking events that includes “Innovations & Libations” and “Startup Showcase.”

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FamilyRoom startup presents at Morning Edition, launch party announced

September 10, 2025 Comments (0) News

UNMC nursing professor Breanna Hetland, PhD, RN, presents her innovative startup company, FamilyRoom, during UNeMed's Idea Pub: Morning Edition at Omaha Catalyst on Aug. 28, 2025. Dr. Hetland was also named UNeMed's inaugural Faculty Entrepreneur award winner at the 2024 Innovation Awards.

UNMC nursing professor Breanna Hetland, PhD, RN, presents her innovative startup company, FamilyRoom, during UNeMed’s Idea Pub: Morning Edition at Omaha Catalyst on Aug. 28, 2025. Dr. Hetland was also named UNeMed’s inaugural Faculty Entrepreneur award winner at the 2024 Innovation Awards.

OMAHA, Nebraska (August 28, 2025)—UNeMed’s first Faculty Entrepreneur awardee, Breanna Hetland, PhD, used her spotlight at the most recent Idea Pub: Morning Edition to announce the upcoming launch party of her startup, FamilyRoom.
As the featured speaker at the monthly networking event, Dr. Hetland, who is also a registered nurse, opened her brief presentation with a powerful mental image.

She asked the audience to close their eyes and quietly listen to a few seconds of an audio recording. The Forge Event Hall at Omaha Catalyst soon filled with the distinct chirps of a heart monitor; the labored but rhythmic breathing of a patient on a ventilator, and the distinctive dull hum of a hospital room caring for a critical patient.

Dr. Hetland said those were familiar sounds, but the true depth of their impact was unknown to her until her father became a patient in a critical care facility.
“As a critical care nurse, I thought I understood,” she said. “But, as a daughter, I didn’t.”

Her experience on the other side—as a family member of a critical care patient—inspired the creation of her startup company. The goal was to build a software solution that helps patients, family and clinicians better communicate during what is likely some of the worst moments in their lives. In helping family members become more than spectators, Dr. Hetland suspects her solution could help improve outcomes as well.

“Because family care is patient care,” she said.

Dr. Hetland also announced plans for the upcoming party next month that will celebrate the successful launch of her startup and present an investment opportunity for the public.

Planned for Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, at the Hoff Family Arts Center in Council Bluffs at 4-7 p.m., FamilyRoom will host an evening that will include live music, an art exhibit and catered refreshments. To learn more about the launch and reserve free tickets, visit the event website here. (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/burden-bloom-tickets-1664576074849)

Lamonte Russell, UNeTech Institute's Strategy and Ventures Manager, chats with guests during UNeMed's Idea Pub: Morning Edition at Omaha Catalyst on Aug. 28, 2025. Russell, along with UNO's Brent Clark (not pictured), leads the Maverick Technology Alliance, a student-led business strategy program that was UNeMed's 2024 Innovation Champion.

Lamonte Russell, UNeTech Institute’s Strategy and Ventures Manager, chats with guests during UNeMed’s Idea Pub: Morning Edition at Omaha Catalyst on Aug. 28, 2025. Russell, along with UNO’s Brent Clark (not pictured), leads the Maverick Technology Alliance, a student-led business strategy program that was UNeMed’s 2024 Innovation Champion.

Dr. Hetland has landed several awards and honors related to her innovation, including the Harriet H. Werley New Investigator Award (Midwest Nursing Research Society), the Betty Irene Moore Fellowship for Nurse Leaders and Innovators, the Judges Award in the Digital Tools category of the Equalize Pitch Competition and a Small Business Technology Transfer grant from the National Institutes of Health.

Morning Edition is UNeMed’s networking event for university innovators, entrepreneurs and startup community members. Catalyst Omaha co-sponsors the event and provides free tours of the spacious facility.

Morning Editions will continue to be a fixture in the Catalyst’s Forge Event Hall, located on the north end of the building. Guided tours will also continue as an added feature.

The next Morning Edition is planned for Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, in the Forge Event Hall at 9 a.m.-11 a.m.

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Design thinking workshop coming soon, applications open

September 5, 2025 Comments (0) News

OMAHA, Nebraska (September 5, 2025)—A two-day workshop aimed at innovative faculty and staff at the University of Nebraska is planned for next month with the goal of creating novel solutions to a significant problem in healthcare.

The Nebraska X Design Workshop is planned for Tuesday, Nov. 11 and Wednesday, Nov. 12, at UNMC and will use design thinking methodology to develop ideas to help prevent patient falls in hospitals and other clinical spaces. (Patient falls in American hospitals lead to an estimated 250,000 injuries and about 11,000 deaths every year.)

The Design Thinking method is a five-stage process that first asks workshop participants to empathize with and then define the problem. Participants then brainstorm ideas and, finally, build and test a prototype.

The Nebraska X Design Workshop will begin with an all-day bootcamp at Omaha Catalyst on Tuesday, Nov. 11, to train attendees in the Design Thinking process. The next day—in the Nebraska Medicine Innovation Design Unit—will feature the Design Thinking “sprint workshop” using the five-step process to build solutions to the problem.

The event will be led by Doug Dietz, an industrial engineer and former Design Team Lead at GE Healthcare.

Both days with run all day, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. A light breakfast and lunch will be provided.

The workshop is specifically targeted at anyone interested in problem-solving, thinking outside the box, and collaborative projects. Any faculty interested in learning more about the Design Thinking methodology for their colleges, departments and units are especially encouraged to apply.

The deadline to apply is Sept. 30, but all applications will be reviewed and accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Space is limited, so anyone interested is encouraged to apply soon.

The application form and more information can be found at https://bit.ly/NExDesign.

The Nebraska X Design Workshop sponsored by the Nebraska Research Initiative, in collaboration with UNeMed, UNeTech, UNMC Design Thinking and the Nebraska Medicine Innovation Design Unit.

 

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August Morning Edition: Family Room ‘humanizing’ hospital care

August 21, 2025 Comments (0) News


OMAHA, Nebraska (August 21, 2025)—The next Idea Pub: Morning Edition will feature UNeMed’s 2024 Faculty Entrepreneur Award winner, Breanna Hetland, PhD, and her budding startup, Family Room.

The event will be held on Thursday, Aug. 28, at 9 a.m. in the Catalyst building’s Forge Event Hall.

Dr. Hetland, along with co-founder Greg Nelson, will present their innovative approach to helping patients, their loved ones and care providers better communicate during critical care hospitalizations.

Poster for August 28, 2025 Idea Pub: Morning EditionA registered nurse and an assistant professor in UNMC’s College of Nursing, Dr. Hetland has landed several awards and honors related to her innovations, including the Harriet H. Werley New Investigator Award (Midwest Nursing Research Society), the Betty Irene Moore Fellowship for Nurse Leaders and Innovators, the Judges Award in the Digital Tools category of the Equalize Pitch Competition and a Small Business Technology Transfer grant from the National Institutes of Health.

Idea Pub: Morning Edition will be held in Catalyst Omaha on the western edge of the UNMC campus, on Saddle Creek Road. Free coffee will be provided. Catalyst, a co-sponsor of the event, will also offer complimentary facility tours on a first-come, first-served basis.

Metered parking is available along 46th Street.

The event is set for 9-11 a.m. in the Forge Event Hall on the north end of the building.

UNeMed, the technology transfer and commercialization office for UNMC and UNO, created Morning Edition to help University innovators and entrepreneurs connect and collaborate with colleagues and experts from the venture capital and startup communities.

Morning Edition will also regularly feature “Office Hours” with UNeMed staff and Charlie Cuddy, who co-founded the Nebraska Startup Academy and MOVE Venture Capital. Office Hours creates the opportunity for faculty, students and staff to have one-on-one time with MOVE or UNeMed professionals to discuss new technologies or startup potential.

MOVE is a pre-seed and seed venture capital firm focused on investing in Nebraska technology startup companies. The Nebraska Startup Academy is a mentoring program for startup founders, investors and the local entrepreneurial community with the aim of building Nebraska into “an innovation hub in the Midwest.”

Morning Edition will be held on the final Thursday of every month and will continue to feature guest speakers from the University’s stable of successful and budding startup companies and from Omaha’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The event will provide UNMC and UNO innovators an opportunity to build new partnerships and allies that can help develop their innovative ideas and discoveries into products that help people.

The event is free and open to all, and complimentary coffee will be provided as long as supplies last.

Future planned dates and speakers are:

  1. Sep. 25: Deep Health Diagnostics
  2. Oct. 30: UNO NCITE
  3. Nov. 20: XRenegades- A Firework Media Studio, LLC
  4. Dec. 18: Surgical Simulation Technologies

Morning Edition is part of UNeMed’s “Idea Pub,” a suite of entrepreneurial networking events that includes “Innovations & Libations” and “Startup Showcase.”

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