OMAHA, Nebraska (May 2, 2022)—The 2022 Technology Transfer Boot Camp will be held Aug. 8-12.
Tech Transfer Boot Camp is aimed at scientists and students interested in what it takes to commercialize a new invention or discovery. The week-long event can also jump-start an alternate career in science as a technology transfer professional.
The program helps scientists gain a wide range of skills and experience that match their scientific knowledge and training.
Boot Camp focuses on several key areas relevant to a successful career in technology transfer, including:
Invention evaluation
Intellectual property law
Marketing and commercialization
Contract negotiation
UNeMed’s Tech Transfer Boot Camp dives deeper than simple lectures. Topics wills be explored with hands-on activities meant to teach, correct and reinforce new skills and abilities.
Anyone within the University of Nebraska system is encouraged to apply and participate free of charge, but space is limited. People who aren’t affiliated with the University of Nebraska are also welcome, but will be charged $200 upon acceptance.
Applications are open through July 31, and will be reviewed in the order they are received until all spaces are filled.
UNeMed Corporation, the technology transfer office for UNMC and UNO, seeks a communications intern to help generate and promote stories about the innovations that emerge from all Omaha campuses at the University of Nebraska.
The communications intern will use existing content to help organize and grow UNeMed’s social media presence. The intern will also have the opportunity to contribute in other areas as well. Potential opportunities for additional experience could include producing blog posts, feature stories, news articles, photos or video packages. Most content will appear on UNeMed’s website, but some items might have potential for wider audiences.
This internship provides a great opportunity to not only improve and master social media marketing strategies, but also hone a wide range of skills needed to help a non-expert understand and appreciate complicated ideas, concepts and technologies.
The ideal candidate will be nimble on most social media platforms, LinkedIn in particular, and be ready to elevate existing accounts to new levels of engagement. The ideal candidate is also a skilled storyteller with a knack for slaying jargon and explaining scientific terms.
A scientific background or experience writing about science-related topics is preferred, but any curious person who appreciates a good “gee-whiz” story about scientific innovation—and wants to improve or learn how to do it—is encouraged to apply.
The communications intern is a paid position at about 15-25 hours per week. Pay will be commensurate with skill and experience levels, and hours can be flexible to fit a student’s schedule.
To apply: Submit a cover letter, resume, and three appropriate samples of work to Charlie Litton at charles.litton@unmc.edu. UNeMed will accept applications until the position has been filled.
OMAHA, Nebraska (April 28, 2022)—UNeMed Corporation, the technology transfer and commercialization office for the University of Nebraska Medical Center and University of Nebraska Omaha, is now seeking qualified candidates for its paid internship program.
UNeMed’s interns gain hands-on training, mentorship and all the tools needed to launch a successful career in the technology transfer or biotechnology industry.
All interns work closely with experienced UNeMed staff to help biomedical inventions developed at UNMC and UNO move beyond the laboratory and into the marketplace. UNeMed interns will gain valuable, first-hand experience in a wide range of interdisciplinary, technology transfer-related activities, including:
Invention evaluations
Patent and copyright law
Contract negotiation
Startup business formation
Technology marketing
The ideal candidate will:
Be actively working towards or hold an advanced degree in a scientific field
Have the ability to comprehend complicated scientific and technical information
Have excellent research, analytical and writing skills
Strong written and oral communication skills
Be an independent thinker who is self-motivated and can take initiative while still contributing to a dynamic, fast-paced team environment
Be able to work with the diverse range of personalities often found among elite academic researchers and biomedical industry executives
Have the ability work on several projects at one time
UNeMed interns will be expected to:
Help evaluate new invention submissions
Develop technical marketing summaries
Conduct market analysis research
Promote UNeMed and UNMC innovations to local, regional and national companies
Manage marketing campaigns
Identify potential licensees
Develop communication strategies to promote UNMC and UNO technologies
To apply, submit your resume or CV with a letter expressing interest to UNeMed@unmc.edu, with “UNeMed Licensing & Marketing Internship” in the subject line. UNeMed will accept applications until the position is filled.
April 19, 2022 (LINCOLN, Neb.)—Virtual Incision Corporation, a medical device company pioneering the world’s first miniaturized robotic-assisted surgery platform, today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved an Investigational Device Exemption supplement to complete the final stage of its clinical study analyzing the MIRA® Platform in bowel resection procedures. The approval was supported by a favorable interim clinical study report on the safety profile of MIRA.
The IDE supplement approval puts Virtual Incision on track to obtain the clinical evidence needed to bring innovation to the soft tissue surgical robotics industry, a market that has been historically dominated by a single player. Results of the completed study will support MIRA’s upcoming FDA De Novo application for market authorization.
The first cases of the study were completed at Bryan Medical Center in Lincoln, Neb. by Dr. Michael Jobst and Dr. Kelly Krier, and at Lankenau Medical Center in Wynnewood, Pa. by Dr. John Marks and Dr. Henry Schoonyoung.
“Our clinical experience has been extremely positive so far,” said Dr. Jobst, the first surgeon in the world to operate with the device. “I was able to perform 100% of the dissection with MIRA in all of my cases. We have also been pleased with its accessibility and efficiency. I operated on eight patients in five different operating rooms, and that’s something that’s just not possible with mainframe RAS platforms. MIRA has the potential to bring the benefits of minimally invasive surgery to more patients, and that’s truly exciting.”
“MIRA was created to address the limitations of traditional robotic-assisted mainframe machines. We miniaturized and simplified MIRA to make it more accessible, easy to use, and easy to adopt,” said John Murphy, president and chief executive officer of Virtual Incision. “These are the features that will allow surgeons to treat more patients each day. It is encouraging to see MIRA demonstrating the potential to help surgeons perform simplified robotic procedures safely and precisely. Completing the final stage of our clinical study will be a key milestone along MIRA’s regulatory pathway, and we will continue to focus on clinical excellence to best support the innovation we provide to patients and surgeons.”
A collaboration between a former UNMC surgeon and a UNL robotics engineer created Virtual Incision’s MIRA Platform, the world’s first miniaturized robotic-assisted surgery platform. Its small, sleek design is planned to offer the benefits of RAS during abdominal procedures without the logistical inefficiencies of traditional mainframe robotics. The easily accessible device weighs only two pounds and can be used in any operating room – a dedicated mainframe room is unnecessary. With its drape- and dock- free design and portability, MIRA is quick to set up, clean up, and move in between cases, enabling an increased robotic-assisted surgery caseload. With MIRA, every operating room is robot-ready.
Virtual Incision is on a mission to simplify robotic-assisted surgery (RAS), so more patients and their surgeons can access its benefits every day. Headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska, and holding over 200 patents and patent applications, the company is developing MIRA, the first-of-its-kind miniature, and highly accessible RAS platform. Virtual Incision’s goal is to make every operating room RAS-ready.
OMAHA, Nebraska (March 23, 2022)—UNeMed released today its 2021 annual report, detailing key metrics, highlights and notable achievements during the fiscal year ending in 2021.
The report focused on recent successes in the startup realm, highlighting several technologies and new businesses that spun out of discoveries and innovations from faculty and staff at UNMC and UNO.
In an open letter to readers, UNeMed President and CEO Michael Dixon, PhD, notes that despite the pandemic—and the resulting growth of remote working—University of Nebraska faculty, students and staff maintained a high level of productive creativity.
“…it’s clear that impediments to office hours and in-person meetings will not stop the pace of innovation,” he wrote. “Our researchers, students and staff have been chugging along at a steady clip and have defied all expectations.”
He goes on to say that 2021 was the latest in a string of four straight years of receiving more than 100 new invention disclosures. Inventors set a UNeMed record in 2018 with 11 new inventions, which was the first year UNeMed hit triple digits in that category. Innovators then logged another 101 in 2019, followed by 105 in each of the last two fiscal years.
Dixon also pointed out another company record was set in 2021 with 26 United States patents issued. But he added added that big numbers in invention disclosures and secured patents only reveal a partial picture.
“When we look at our portfolio of technologies,” he wrote, “I’m most proud that more than 60 percent have been licensed to a commercialization partner that has invested in continued development and commercialization.”
Some of those licenses include a record seven new startups formed. But the report also highlights several more established companies that have gone on to higher levels of success, including Virtual Incision, Radux, Vireo, and Ensign Pharmaceutical, to name a few.
Other metrics highlighted in the annual report include international patents, agreements, revenue and other benchmarks that measure UNeMed’s commercialization efforts.
The annual report also recounts the 2020 Innovation Awards and the University’s robust innovations in the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Finally, several key technologies currently available for licensing are also outlined in the report.
The report can be viewed online, and printed copies are also available. Contact UNeMed to receive a free printed copy.
OMAHA, Nebraska (February 22, 2022)—The inaugural “Back-o-the-Napkin Contest” closed recently, with organizers selecting three winning inventions that will receive further development guidance and prototyping.
In no particular order, the three winning entries were a laser measurement device for jump testing; a design for a helmet that could replace face shields and respirators for healthcare workers; and a wearable ligation tool that could help improve a surgeon’s ability to tie up arteries or other binding procedures.
The contest received entries from inventive faculty across clinical disciplines, including The Truhlsen Eye Institute, Department of Neurological Sciences, College of Allied Health Professions Division of Physical Therapy Education, Clinical Movement Analysis (CMOVA) Laboratory, College of Dentistry, College of Nursing, and the College of Medicine Department of Surgery.
The “Single Laser Measurement Device for Jump Testing” was submitted by Michael Rosenthal, Elizabeth Wellsandt and Michael Wellsandt. All three co-inventors are physical therapists in Allied Health. Their proposed device is a portable, single laser jump-testing device for repeatable, objective horizontal and vertical testing.
The “Beam Helmet” was submitted by Elizabeth Beam, PhD, a registered nurse in the College of Nursing. She designed a personalized, protective helmet for doctors that could replace filtering face piece respirators (FFR) and powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR).
Finally, the “Wearable Pinch Ligation Device – Python” was submitted by Quan Ly, MD, and Meghana Kashyap, MD, from the College of Medicine’s Division of Surgery; and Larry Hart, a UNeTech prototyping fellow at Metropolitan Community College. Their invention is a wearable, electrosurgical ligation device to facilitate improved tissue sparing surgical procedures.
UNeMed, the technology transfer and commercialization office for UNMC and UNO, sponsored the contest in collaboration with the James and Karen Linder Maker Studio at UNMC’s McGoogan Library; UNO’s Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Franchising; and UNeTech Institute.
OMAHA, Nebraska (February 10, 2022)—UNeMed’s annual Innovation Week concluded today with its Research Innovation Awards Ceremony, which featured a Most Promising New Invention, the Startup of the Year and the Innovator of the Year.
For the second time in the event’s 15-year history, the Innovation Awards was a virtual event in response to concerns related to the ongoing pandemic. Originally scheduled for October, the event was postponed with the hope that a delay would allow for an in-person ceremony. Instead, UNeMed hosted the ceremony via Zoom.
The ceremony featured remarks from Chancellor Jeffrey Gold, MD, and Vice Chancellor for Research, Jennifer Larsen, MD. UNeMed’s CEO and President Michael Dixon also delivered a short presentation in review of the previous fiscal year.
The highlight of the event was the awards ceremony, where UNeMed recognized all the inventors who contributed to a new invention disclosure, secured a U.S. patent or had a technology licensed. In addition, three special awards were presented, including Hanjun Wang, MD, as the 2021 Innovator of the Year.
An associate professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Dr. Wang focuses on innovative work developing novel treatment strategies for a variety of diseases, including heart failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome and peripheral artery disease.
More specifically, his team is looking at the role spinal afferent neurons play in regulating disease onset and progression. He has identified a number of different approaches to target spinal afferent neurons. One of these approaches focuses on localized administration of resiniferatoxin, a potent neurotoxin that can ablate specific nerves. Dr. Wang is exploring resiniferatoxin as a possible treatment for hypertension, heart failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome and peripheral artery disease.
Some of those applications have been licensed by an undisclosed biotech company that is working on developing them for clinical use. As part of this relationship, Dr. Wang has helped bring in more than $1.1 million in sponsored research to develop this therapeutic approach.
In addition, Dr. Wang has developed other approaches for targeting spinal afferent neurons. One of which has been licensed into a startup company, Inflaneurgo, which is working on finding a partner to help advance some of these ideas.
Dr. Knarr
Vanderheyden
Buffum
In total, Dr. Wang has submitted 13 inventions, including three in fiscal year 2021. These inventions have resulted in 21 active patents and patent applications, three license agreements, and two sponsored research agreements.
The Most Promising New Invention of 2021 was presented to a trio of innovators in the Department of Biomechanics at UNO: Brian Knarr, PhD, associate professor and Director of the Machining and Prototyping Core at UNO; Travis Vanderheyden, research and development engineer in the Machining and Prototyping Core; and Russell Buffum, research and development engineer in the Machining and Prototyping Core.
The “Improved Self-Pacing Treadmill” adjusts its speed to the runner—whether a user wants to run, walk or trot, the treadmill adjusts to the user’s pace, without needing any other input. In speeding up or slowing down to match a runner’s speed, the new treadmill will make home and gym workouts safer and more realistic.
Finally, UNeMed presented UNMC chemist Dong Wang, PhD, with the 2021 Startup of the Year Award for his new company, Ensign Pharmaceutical.
Dr. Wang
Dr. Wang, a professor of pharmaceutical sciences in the College of Pharmacy, created a thermosensitive hydrogel formulation called ProGel, a novel platform technology that can deliver a variety of therapeutics. ProGel has attracted wide interest as the cornerstone technology for his startup.
Ensign Pharmaceutical recently secured nearly $2 million in federal research grant funding, which will support pre-clinical studies needed to approach regulatory approval. Ensign won the 2020 Business Innovation Live Pitch competition in Phoenix during the Orthopaedic Research Society’s annual meeting.
Also, Ensign was selected to present at highly selective startup conferences, the Invest Midwest Venture Capital Forum and Destination Startup.
More information about Innovation Week and the Innovation Awards ceremony, including its history and awardees, can be found at https://www.unemed.com/innovation-week.
OMAHA, Nebraska (February 10, 2022)—Innovation Week concludes today at noon with the annual Research Innovation Awards ceremony.
Sponsored by UNeMed, Innovation Week is a series of events that celebrate and encourage innovation and discovery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The week concludes with the Innovation Awards, which honors all UNMC and UNO faculty, students and staff who contributed to a new invention, received a U.S. patent or had a technology successfully licensed during the previous fiscal year.
The hour-long program will also announce the Most Promising New Invention of the Year, the Startup of the Year and the Innovator of the Year.
Previous Innovation Week events were a panel discussion about prototyping resources in the area, another panel discussion about the rigors of building a startup company around a new invention, and a third panel group that examined startup resources.
Videos of all three panel discussions will soon be available.
To view any of those videos or to learn more about Innovation Week and the Innovation Awards, including any potential itinerary changes or updates, visit UNeMed’s Innovation Week page at https://www.unemed.com/innovation-week.
OMAHA, Nebraska (February 9, 2022)—Innovation Week will enter its third day today at noon when a panel discusses some of the resources available to local entrepreneurs.
The panel will feature Josh Nichol-Caddy, the Technology Commercialization Director at the Nebraska Business Development Center; Jace Gatzemeyer, innovation development strategist at UNeTech; Joy Eakin, Entrepreneurship Program Manager at NUtech Ventures; Matt Foley, Program Director at Invest Nebraska; and Megan Varnum, principal consultant at BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting.
Sponsored by UNeMed, Innovation Week is a series of events that celebrate and encourage innovation and discovery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The week concludes with the Innovation Awards, which honors all UNMC and UNO faculty, students and staff who contributed to a new invention, received a U.S. patent or had a technology successfully licensed during the previous fiscal year.
The awards ceremony is planned for Thursday, Feb. 10, at noon. The hour-long program will announce the Most Promising New Invention of the Year, the Startup of the Year and the Innovator of the Year.
Previous Innovation Week events were a panel discussion about prototyping resources in the area, and another panel discussion about the rigors of building a startup company around a new invention.
Videos of all three panel discussions will soon be available.
To view any of those videos or to learn more about Innovation Week and the Innovation Awards, including any potential itinerary changes or updates, visit UNeMed’s Innovation Week page at https://www.unemed.com/innovation-week.
OMAHA, Nebraska (February 8, 2022)—Innovation Week continues today at noon with panel discussion that will take on some of the challenges associated with building a startup company around a new invention or discovery.
Members of that panel group will include James Hermsen, a local entrepreneur and co-founder of Suh-Hermsen Glasses; Doug Miller, CEO and founder of Impower Health; Abbie Raikes, PhD, CEO and founder of ECD Measure; and Jason Johanning, MD, founder of FutureAssure.
Another panel discussion is planned for the following day, Wednesday, Feb. 9, at noon. This panel will discuss various resources available to fresh startup companies and aspiring entrepreneurs. This panel will feature Josh Nichol-Caddy, the Technology Commercialization Director at the Nebraska Business Development Center; Jace Gatzemeyer, innovation development strategist at UNeTech; Joy Eakin, Entrepreneurship Program Manager at NUtech Ventures; Matt Foley, Program Director at Invest Nebraska; and Megan Varnum, principal consultant at BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting.
Sponsored by UNeMed, Innovation Week is a series of events that celebrate and encourage innovation and discovery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The week culminates with the Innovation Awards, which honors all UNMC and UNO faculty, students and staff who contributed to a new invention, received a U.S. patent or had a technology successfully licensed during the previous fiscal year.
The awards ceremony is planned for Thursday, Feb. 10, at noon. The hour-long program will announce the Most Promising New Invention of the Year, the Startup of the Year and the Innovator of the Year.
Innovation Week opened Monday with a panel discussion about local resources for 3D modeling and building prototypes. A video of that discussion will soon be available.
To view that video or to learn more about Innovation Week and the Innovation Awards, including any potential itinerary changes or updates, visit UNeMed’s Innovation Week page at https://www.unemed.com/innovation-week.
OMAHA, Nebraska (February 7, 2022)—Innovation Week 2021 opens today at noon with a panel discussion on local resources available for 3D modeling and building prototypes.
Members of the panel group will include Brian Maass, the digital technologies librarian at the Leon S. McGoogan Health Science Library; Noah Wester, 3D modeling technician at UNeTech Institute, the University startup incubator; Bethany Lowndes, PhD, an Assistant Professor in Neurological Sciences and a member of the Great Plains IDeA-CTR core facility; and Brian Knarr, an Associate Professor and Director of the Machining and Prototyping Core at UNO Biomechanics.
Like all Innovation Week events, the prototyping panel discussion is free and open to all. It can be viewed at: https://unomaha.zoom.us/j/94759912131.
Innovation Week continues tomorrow at noon with a second panel group that will discuss what it takes to build a startup company around a new invention. Members of that panel group will include James Hermsen, a local entrepreneur and co-founder of Suh-Hermsen Glasses; Doug Miller, CEO and founder of Impower Health; Abbie Raikes, PhD, CEO and founder of ECD Measure; and Jason Johanning, MD, founder of FutureAssure.
A third and final panel discussion is planned for the following day, Wednesday, Feb. 9, at noon. This panel will discuss various resources available to fresh startup companies and aspiring entrepreneurs. This panel will feature Josh Nichol-Caddy, the Technology Commercialization Director at the Nebraska Business Development Center; Jace Gatzemeyer, innovation development strategist at UNeTech; Joy Eakin, Entrepreneurship Program Manager at NUtech Ventures; Matt Foley, Program Director at Invest Nebraska; and Megan Varnum, principal consultant at BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting.
Sponsored by UNeMed, Innovation Week is a series of events that celebrate and encourage innovation and discovery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The week culminates with the Innovation Awards, which honors all UNMC and UNO faculty, students and staff who contributed to a new invention, received a U.S. patent or had a technology successfully licensed during the previous fiscal year.
The Innovation Awards and all other Innovation Week events will be hosted via Zoom. The awards ceremony is planned for Thursday, Feb. 10, at noon. The hour-long program will announce the Most Promising New Invention of the Year, the Startup of the Year and the Innovator of the Year.
All events are free and open to all. More information, including any potential itinerary changes or updates, can be found at unemed.com/innovation-week.
OMAHA, Nebraska (January 31, 2022)—Innovation Week 2021 will begin next week following a four-month postponement due to the pandemic.
Sponsored by UNeMed, the technology transfer and commercialization office for UNMC and UNO, Innovation Week is a series of events meant to celebrate and encourage innovation and discovery on Omaha campuses. The week culminates with the Innovation Awards, which honors all UNMC and UNO faculty, students and staff who contributed to a new invention, received a U.S. patent or had a technology successfully licensed during the previous fiscal year.
Like last year, the Innovation Awards—and all other Innovation Week events—will be hosted via Zoom. The awards ceremony is planned for Thursday, Feb. 10, at noon. The hour-long program will announce the Most Promising New Invention of the Year, the Startup of the Year and the Innovator of the Year.
Innovation Week begins on Monday, Feb. 7, at noon with a panel discussion on local resources available for 3D modeling and making prototypes. Members of the panel group will include Brian Maass, the digital technologies librarian at the Leon S. McGoogan Health Science Library; Noah Wester, 3D modeling technician at UNeTech Institute, the University startup incubator; Bethany Lowndes, PhD, an Assistant Professor in Neurological Sciences and a member of the Great Plains IDeA-CTR core facility; and Brian Knarr, an Associate Professor and Director of the Machining and Prototyping Core at UNO Biomechanics.
Innovation Week continues on Tuesday, Feb. 8, at noon with a second panel group that will discuss what it takes to build a startup company around a new invention. Members of that panel group will include James Hermsen, a local entrepreneur and co-founder of Suh-Hermsen Glasses; Doug Miller, CEO and founder of Impower Health; Abbie Raikes, PhD, CEO and founder of ECD Measure; and Jason Johanning, MD, founder of FutureAssure.
A third and final panel discussion is planned for the following day, Wednesday, Feb. 9, at noon. This panel will discuss various resources available to fresh startup companies and aspiring entrepreneurs. This panel will feature Josh Nichol-Caddy, the Technology Commercialization Director at the Nebraska Business Development Center; Jace Gatzemeyer, innovation development strategist at UNeTech; Joy Eakin, Entrepreneurship Program Manager at NUtech Ventures; Matt Foley, Program Director at Invest Nebraska; and Megan Varnum, principal consultant at BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting.
Innovation Week concludes the following day with the Innovation Awards at noon on Thursday, Feb. 10.
All events are free and open to all. More information, including any potential itinerary changes or updates, can be found at unemed.com/innovation-week.
OMAHA, Neb. (January 26, 2022)—Lisa Carlson, PhD, has been promoted from intern to a full-time licensing associate position with UNeMed, the technology transfer and commercialization office at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
“I can’t stress how excited we are to bring Dr. Jorgenson onto our team as a full time Licensing Associate,” said Michael Dixon, PhD, UNeMed’s President and CEO. “Her scientific acumen and ability to understand and articulate the business opportunities associated with these new scientific discoveries will help ensure that more UNMC discoveries will developed into products and services that improve healthcare.”
The promotion and full-time status expands her role of evaluating, marketing, and seeking partnerships for new inventions, cures, treatments and medical devices developed at UNMC.
UNeMed’s mission is to help UNMC and UNO faculty, students and staff further develop their innovations and groundbreaking discoveries into real-world applications and products. Dr. Jorgenson joins UNeMed’s team of licensing experts who work every day to advance the University’s new discoveries into new technologies that might one-day affect millions around the world.
“At UNeMed, I have the pleasure of learning new things every week that span the biomedical spectrum,” Dr. Jorgenson said, “while applying the critical thinking skills I gained in graduate school. When I receive a new invention disclosure, I end up going down deep rabbit holes learning about the technology. I love it.”
A native of Webster, South Dakota, Dr. Jorgenson is the daughter of Jody and Jackie Jorgenson. She is a 2016 graduate of the University of South Dakota with a Bachelor’s degree in medical biology. Dr. Jorgenson completed her doctorate in Immunology, Pathology, and Infectious Diseases at UNMC in 2021.
OMAHA, Neb. (Jan. 24, 2022)—After a four-month postponement, the 15th annual Innovation Week will begin next month, on Monday, Feb. 7, with a full slate of virtual events.
Innovation Week, an annual celebration of innovation and discovery at the University of Nebraska’s Omaha campuses, is sponsored by UNeMed, the technology transfer and commercialization office for UNMC and UNO.
Innovation Week will begin at noon on Monday, Feb. 7, with a panel discussion about local prototyping services. The expert panel is expected to explore prototyping strategies and available resources for researchers, inventors and entrepreneurs who have ideas for new devices or ideas for improving existing ones.
On the following day, Tuesday, Feb. 8, the second panel group will get underway at noon with a discussion about University startups. A group of startup CEOs and inventor-founders will discuss tips, tricks, cautionary tales and lessons learned from their “Adventures in Starting Up.”
Innovation Week will continue on Wednesday, Feb. 9, at noon with its third and final panel discussion, this one exploring resources for those interested in building a startup company. That event will also be held via Zoom: http://bit.ly/iWEEKsbir.
Innovation Week concludes on Thursday, Feb. 10, at noon with the Innovation Awards ceremony. The awards program will recognize all faculty, students and staff who submitted new inventions, had a technology licensed or were awarded a United States patent during the fiscal year ending in 2021.
The awards program is expected to run about an hour, and will also feature remarks from Chancellor Jeffrey Gold, M.D., along with special awards for the year’s Most Promising New Invention and the Innovator of the Year.
OMAHA, Neb. (January 20, 2022)—After a long postponement UNeMed’s annual Innovation Awards has been rescheduled for Thursday, Feb. 10.
Traditionally hosted in October, UNeMed’s recognition of innovators and inventors at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the University of Nebraska at Omaha, was delayed in an effort to host the event in-person. However, due to the persistence of the COVID-19 pandemic, all Innovation Week events will be entirely virtual.
As Innovation Week enters its 15th year, UNeMed is planning a series of events including three panel discussions. One group will discuss SBIR/STTR grant funding; another will examine how to build a startup company around an invention; and a third will dive into the ins and outs of prototyping. Times and dates will be announced as soon as they have been finalized.
Innovation Week will culminate with the Innovation Awards Ceremony, tentatively scheduled for noon on Thursday, Feb. 10. The hour-long event will be held via Zoom, and will be free and open to all.
The awards program recognizes all faculty, students and staff who submitted new inventions, had a technology licensed or were inventors on an issued United States patent during the 2021 fiscal year. UNeMed will also present two special awards for the year’s Most Promising New Invention and the Innovator of the Year.
Innovation Week is sponsored by UNeMed, the technology transfer and commercialization office for UNMC and UNO.
More information and Zoom links to Innovation Week events will be announced in the coming weeks, and will also be posted at https://www.unemed.com/innovation-week.
The Child Health Research Institute will host a Pediatric Academic Workshop with the theme “From Bench to Bedside to Bench” on Feb. 22, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Speakers will provide guidance on how to convert research ideas into reality; how to better connect clinical and bench science to impact patient care; and how to benefit from mentorship provided by senior investigators to develop your own career path. Panel discussions are scheduled on the topics of “Successful Collaboration Between Basic & Clinical Science” and “From Bench to Bedside to Market.”
To complement the Pediatric Academic Workshop, Chester Koh, Professor of Urology, Pediatrics and OB/GYN at Baylor College of Medicine and Balakrishna Haridas, Director of the BioInnovation Master’s of Engineering Program at Texas A&M University, will present on the Southwest National Pediatric Device Innovation Consortium (SWPDC). SWPDC is an entity that provides assistance to developers of pediatric medical devices in the form of seed funding, consulting assistance, engineering and design assistance and other services.
Attendees can register to attend the complete workshop events or just the talk by Drs. Koh and Haridas. Visit the Pediatric Academic Workshop website at https://www.unmc.edu/chri/news/Workshops.html for more information and to access the registration links. The complete agenda is also available at the workshop website, and can be viewed and downloaded below.
OMAHA, Nebraska (February 22, 2022)—The inaugural “Back-o-the-Napkin Contest” closed recently, with organizers selecting three winning inventions that will receive further development guidance and prototyping.
OMAHA, Nebraska (February 9, 2022)—Innovation Week will enter its third day today at noon when a panel discusses some of the resources available to local entrepreneurs.
OMAHA, Neb. (January 20, 2022)—After a long postponement UNeMed’s annual Innovation Awards has been rescheduled for Thursday, Feb. 10.
