John Neubaum (center), co-founder of Omaha startup HemaGlobal, and Michael Wadman, MD (right)—Chair of UNMC’s emergency medicine department and co-inventor of RapidSmear, the startup’s foundational technology—chat with Rob Owen (far left), Executive Director of Bio Nebraska, during the March 27, 2025, Morning Edition networking event at Catalyst.
OMAHA, Nebraska (February 26, 2026)—HemaGlobal, a startup company built around an innovation developed at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, was recently tabbed as the top feature on the Bio Nebraska website.
Bio Nebraska is the state’s non-profit trade organization for the bioscience industry, helping promote and connect organizations and opportunities within the sector.
The spotlight on HemaGlobal shines on the company’s robust growth for its “flagship device,” RapidSmear. Little more than an idea in 2024, RapidSmear is now available in 21 U.S. states.
Invented by HemaGlobal co-founders and Thanh Nguyen, PhD, and Michael Wadman, MD, the RapidSmear device helps simplify a critically importance step in many diagnostic tests: Preparing a blood smear sample for microscopic examination. Done improperly, it can create bottlenecks or even life-threatening delays.
HemaGlobal reports that RapidSmear improved efficiency for already-proficient personnel by 36 percent and gave non-experts a “massive” boost of an incredible 75 percent. Dr. Wadman, Chair of the Emergency Medicine department, and Dr. Thanh—a nurse by training and recipient of numerous innovation awards, including the 2025 President’s Excellence Award—worked with the Nebraska Medicine National Quarantine Unit to develop the RapidSmear device.
Bio Nebraska’s feature also notes:
“HemaGlobal’s rapid growth was made possible by the vital support of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED). Through the Business Innovation Act, Ben Kupsa and the dedicated DED team infused HemaGlobal with the early financial support necessary to accelerate our technology and develop a sustainable manufacturing infrastructure.”
Read the entire feature at: https://www.bionebraska.org/member-spotlight-hemaglobal/.
