UNeBlog a Technology Transfer Blog by UNeMed

Vireo expansion continues, opens creatine facility

February 27, 2023 Comments (0) News, Success Stories Like

Invented at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, creatine ethyl ester is a popular dietary supplement found in nutrition stores.

PLATTSMOUTH, Nebraska (February 27, 2023)—Vireo Resources and the community of Plattsmouth recently celebrated the grand opening of the first creatine production facility in the United States. The Nebraska Department of Economic Development and the City of Plattsmouth supported the project with $1 million of funding through the Community Development Block Grant Program.

The entire project weighs in at a massive $16.6 million and adds to an industrial campus that will measure about 70,000 square feet. All told, Vireo said it plans to grow from its current roster of 50 employees to 200 and will create about $174 million in annual economic impact to the area.

Vireo makes health products such as holistic options for pain management, skin care, feminine care, overall wellness support, and sports nutrition supplements. The Tennessee-based company first came to the Good Life in 2008, attracted by Nebraska’s business-friendly climate and outstanding academic institutions. Vireo has had great success partnering with Nebraska researchers, commercializing technologies developed with the University of Nebraska Medical Center in collaboration with UNeMed, the technology transfer office at UNMC.

Vireo’s newly opened facility in Plattsmouth will produce Creatine HCI, which many believe is the most important supplement a person can take for optimal health, and that is also used by athletes to increase strength, endurance, and recovery of muscles. Currently, the majority of creatine products available in the U.S. come from China. Vireo’s new $16.6 million production facility will soon give customers the option to purchase domestically produced creatine.

“Nebraska has the world-class workforce, affordable energy, and welcoming communities that companies are looking for as they bring manufacturing jobs back to America,” said Anthony L. Goins, Director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. “Vireo’s growth also showcases our state’s strength in research and development. The company has had tremendous success turning Nebraska brainpower into muscle-building powder and other nutritional supplements. Congratulations to Vireo and the community of Plattsmouth on the grand opening of this new facility!”

The Community Development Block Grant Program, administered by the Department of Economic Development, provides grants to local governments to support projects that expand the state’s economic base and create quality jobs in Nebraska’s communities. In Plattsmouth, the Community Development Block Grant helped Vireo purchase custom-made equipment for its new 32,000 square foot manufacturing facility. The grant has enabled Vireo to create more than 40 full-time jobs.

Vireo’s growth in Plattsmouth has also been aided by the Economic Opportunity Program through the Nebraska Department of Transportation . The Economic Opportunity Program helps local communities attract jobs and private capital investment by providing grants to assist with first-mile/last-mile connections to Nebraska’s statewide transportation system. The Nebraska Department of Transportation approved $322,586 to help the City of Plattsmouth fund construction of a roadway to Vireo’s industrial campus.

Vireo licensed a UNMC patent related to its production of Creatine HCl. It’s one of many patents developed at the University of Nebraska that has allowed partnering companies to bring new products to market and create jobs in Nebraska. For five consecutive years, the University of Nebraska System has ranked among the top 100 academic institutions in the world for earning U.S. patents. In the most recent report, the University achieved its highest-ever ranking at No. 65.

More information about the Community Development Block Grant program is available here.

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Virtual Incision completes clinical study, FDA filing coming soon

February 22, 2023 Comments (1) News Like

Virtual Incision’s MIRA, which stands for miniaturized in vivo robotic assistant.

LINCOLN, Nebraska (February 22, 2023)—Virtual Incision Corporation, a medical device company spearheading the development of the world’s first miniaturized robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) system, today announced the completion of its U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) clinical study. The study was designed to evaluate the company’s MIRA Surgical System for use in bowel resection procedures. This is an important achievement towards bringing new technologies to hospitals and their surgical robotics programs regardless of the site of care.

The surgical cases were completed at three hospitals across the country. Patients who participated in the study were followed after their procedure to fulfill study requirements. The complete data will be correlated and submitted to the FDA as part of the company’s De Novo request for market authorization. Virtual Incision is the first RAS developer to complete a U.S. IDE study to support a De Novo request in bowel resection.

“The investigators are very encouraged by our experiences trialing the MIRA Surgical System,” said Michael A. Jobst, MD, colorectal surgeon. “Across the sites, we’ve seen MIRA efficiently integrate into existing RAS programs and witnessed how it is mobile enough for use in any operating room. Some sites have even completed multiple cases in a single day. We are eager to fulfill the clinical requirements of the study in hopes that MIRA can help expand RAS access to more patients in the future.”

Virtual Incision’s platform technology is founded on more than 200 patents and applications with the first invention disclosures dating back to the early 2000s. Inventors Shane Farritor, an engineering professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Dmitry Oleynikov, a surgeon formerly at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, created the MIRA Surgical System in a cross-campus collaboration that could redefine the scope of minimally invasive procedures.

There are 5 million Americans who undergo abdominal soft tissue procedures annually, however, more than 90 percent go without access to RAS. If authorized by the FDA, MIRA’s miniaturized, strong, and easy-to-use design could potentially increase the overall availability of RAS. It has the potential to integrate into any facility or operating room by serving as a complement to the existing mainframe RAS systems, or by expanding into new sites of care and geographies as a standalone. Virtual Incision aims to increase patient access through a clinically, operationally, and economically sound platform available to all providers.

“Completing MIRA’s IDE clinical study is a critical milestone in our journey to making RAS more accessible,” said John Murphy, president and chief executive officer of Virtual Incision. “Currently, less than 10 percent of the 90,000 operating rooms in the U.S. are equipped with mainframe RAS systems. Beyond the incredible progress of the industry pioneer, it’s still in the early days of the adoption of soft tissue surgical robotics. Our ultimate goal is to develop world-class miniature RAS devices with the required strength and dexterity to enable positive clinical outcomes for a broad range of procedure types.”

A UNeMed startup, Virtual Incision will get a further chance to prove its potential when NASA tests the device on the International Space Station in 2024.

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UNMC innovator accepted into national entrepreneurship program

January 16, 2023 Comments (0) News Like

Breanna Hetland, PhD, RN

OMAHA, Nebraska (January 16, 2023)—Breanna Hetland, PhD, has been accepted into a competitive national entrepreneur-mentoring program that could help boost her innovations in Intensive Care Units everywhere.

Dr. Hetland, Assistant Professor in the UNMC College of Nursing, invented a digital platform called Remote ICU. The software solution enables and promotes more robust patient and family engagement during acute hospitalizations. Dr. Hetland’s innovation is the basis of her startup company, The Family Room.

“As an ICU nurse, I’ve held many hands of patients and their families as they struggled to navigate the most traumatic experience of their lives…an ICU admission,” Dr. Hetland said during a recent presentation. “Then I became the daughter of an ICU patient and it profoundly changed me. The Family Room App is the result of my experience: A passionate effort to vastly improve the ICU experience for patients and their families.”

Dr. Hetland will receive free one-on-one mentoring sessions over the next six months from health sciences industry professionals, culminating in a pitch competition for a chance to win investment at the end of June.

The mentoring program, Equalize, is a national mentoring program designed to increase the number of female academic inventors who develop startup companies to commercialize their inventions. Equalize was created in a collaboration between the technology transfer office as Washington University in St. Louis and Osage University Partners, a venture capital fund for university-based startups.

“We’re extremely proud that Dr. Hetland was selected in the 2023 cohort,” UNeMed president and CEO Michael Dixon, PhD, said. “This is a highly respected national program looking at a Nebraska innovation and seeing incredible value and potential. We’re happy for Dr. Hetland’s achievement, but also for the countless future patients and families that will benefit from her vision.”

Dr. Hetland has been working with UNMC technology transfer office, UNeMed, and Nebraska’s startup incubator and accelerator, UNeTech, since 2018 to protect her intellectual property, identify development partners, apply for small business grants, and engage with the local entrepreneurial support community.

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Year in Review: Highlights from 2022

December 19, 2022 Comments (0) Blog Like

by Charles Litton, UNeMed | December 19, 2022

With apologies to 2021, we like to end each year with a review that looks back at some of the more popular stories, developments and other items from the previous year.

1. Innovation Week

Innovation Week writ large was overwhelmingly the most popular element of the website during 2022. The Innovation Awards has long been among the more popular stops among these pages, but 2022 took it to new heights. To be fair, the massive boost is largely due to the 2021 Awards ceremony, which was postponed until February. The delay was a result of our desire to safely host the Awards as an in-person event for the first time since 2019. Alas, the pandemic had different ideas, and we were forced to put on yet another virtual event. Eight months later, however, we could finally stand in the same room with all our friends and colleagues as in-person events returned in time for the 2022 Awards. We were overjoyed at the massive turnout among UNMC and UNO innovators, leaders and stakeholders.

2. Tech Transfer Boot Camp

The 2022 Tech Transfer Boot Camp was our first in-person event on campus since the beginning of the pandemic, and it generated a level of interest that we took as a pleasant surprise, given the circumstances. Concerns that the two-year hiatus might have spelled the Boot Camp’s ultimate doom turned out to be unfounded.

3. Dr. Hawley Returns

The pandemic didn’t just force all our events into virtual space during a two-year span, it also made hiring new staff much more challenging. It forced UNeMed to think a little outside the box, and ultimately lead to an unqualified home run: The successful recruitment of tech transfer pro Amanda Hawley, PhD. Dr. Hawley returned to UNeMed after a decade of success in the private sector.

4. Updated Inventor Guides Released

UNeMed released an updated version of a comprehensive Inventor’s handbook aimed primarily at UNMC and UNO innovators. The guide covers all the basics of University technology transfer and commercialization, the processes involved, startup formation, University policies, and even includes a glossary of terms. Anyone can receive a free copy of the Inventor’s Guide to Technology Transfer, just reach out to UNeMed and tell us where to send it.

5. Back-o-the-Napkin contest winners

In February, UNeMed announced three winning entries for the first-ever Back-o-the-Napkin Contest, with each receiving development guidance and prototyping services. Entry forms for the contest were designed to resemble a retro diner napkin on which inventors could draw or explain their concepts. At least one of the winning entries has already moved beyond the prototyping stage to inspire a new startup company. We hope to tell that Success Story very soon.

6. Innovations & Libations

The first-ever Innovations & Libations networking event was a huge success for UNeMed. Co-sponsored with UNeTech and the Great Plains IDeA-CTR, the informal event was created as a way to help University inventors build new connections and potential collaborations. Attendance included inventors from both UNMC and UNO, in addition to several people from the private and governmental sectors, which included local manufacturing, engineering and funding organizations.

7. Virtual Incision to complete clinical study

Virtual Incision, a surgical robotics company based on innovations developed at UNMC and UNL, announced its plan for a clinical trial to test its platform technology on bowel resections. The surgical robot is a device that could transform traditional open surgeries like a bowel resection into a laparoscopic procedure. Virtual Incision’s system also allows for surgeons to perform procedures remotely, a feature that NASA will test on the International Space Station in 2024.

8. RespirAI Medical closes seed round

A technology out of UNO’s Biomechanics Department announced the successful close of a seed investment round. The company, RespirAI, is developing a wearable device that will help people suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which can be fatal when symptoms suddenly flare up, a dangerous event known as an exacerbation. The device will predict for the user when an exacerbation is imminent, giving patients the opportunity to seek critical medical care before it’s too late.

9. UNeMed Co-sponsors Innovate Nebraska

In late October, more than 100 people gathered for the Innovate Nebraska Conference, a showcase of Nebraska’s ongoing contribution and dedication to bioscience and medtech companies.

10. 2022 Annual Report

UNeMed issued its annual report for 2022, highlighting key accomplishments and core metrics from the previous fiscal year. The 2021 Annual Report was also a popular feature this year, as its release was delayed to match the postponement of the 2021 Innovation Awards.

Classics:

Several posts from previous years remain popular and relevant, particularly those that focus on day-to-day operations and legal issues associated with intellectual property.

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Sky’s the limit for Virtual Incision’s surgical robotics platform

December 6, 2022 Comments (0) News, Success Stories Like

OMAHA, Nebraska (December 6, 2022)—A new surgical robotics system developed at the University of Nebraska will get a chance to prove its potential when NASA tests the device on the International Space Station in 2024.

Inventors Shane Farritor, an engineering professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Dmitry Oleynikov, a surgeon formerly at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, created the MIRA Surgical System in a cross-campus collaboration that could redefine the scope of minimally invasive procedures.

Their device, MIRA, has already been used clinically in bowel resections as part of an FDA clinical trial. The objective is to aid surgeons in performing the operation through a smaller incision than the traditional open approach, potentially reducing recovery time down to a few days.

“NASA has ambitious plans for long-duration space travel, and it’s important to test the capabilities that may be beneficial during missions measured in months and years,” Farritor, co-founder said. “MIRA continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in RAS (Robotic-Assisted Surgery), and we are pleased with its performance so far during clinical trials. We’re excited to take it a step further and help identify what could be possible as space travel is becoming a reality for humankind.”

The advanced prototype is already in the final stages of a clinical trial under an Investigational Device Exemption to support U.S. Food and Drug Administration market authorization, and has raised more than $100 million in successive financing rounds.

Virtual Incision’s platform technology is founded on more than 200 patents and applications with the first invention disclosures dating back to the early 2000s.

Michael Dixon, PhD—the President and CEO of UNeMed, UNMC’s tech transfer office—was part of the licensing team that worked with Drs. Farritor and Oleynikov to help establish Virtual Incision as a startup back in 2008.

“It’s good to remember that it’s a marathon and not a sprint,” Dr. Dixon said. “The continued collaboration of engineering and surgical expertise has led this team to continue to build on their innovative ideas. As a successful venture capitalist once told me, ‘All my overnight successes took 10 years.’ There have been a few bumps along the road, but the product that is in the clinic now is amazing.”

Added Farritor: “UNeMed has always been open and willing to discuss options, and that flexibility to consider options is really important. UNeMed has been easy to work with, just a really good partner.”

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Hawley returns to UNeMed

November 22, 2022 Comments (0) News Like

Dr. Hawley

OMAHA, Neb. (November 28, 2022)—Amanda Hawley, PhD, has returned to UNeMed, bringing with her six years of industry experience into her role as Senior Licensing Specialist.

“Recruiting Amanda back to the University is a huge win,” UNeMed President and CEO Michael Dixon said. “We have the advantage of her already proven experience in tech transfer, but now leveled up with an impressive track record in private industry.”

Dr. Hawley initially joined UNeMed as an intern in 2014, then was a Licensing Fellow in 2015, before accepting a position at LI-COR, an international biotech company in Lincoln that develops research devices and reagents for a broad range of applications.

While at LI-COR, Dr. Hawley most recently served as Contracts Manager after a role as Business Development and Intellectual Property Manager from May 2016 to February 2022.

In such roles, she developed various training programs and policies, negotiated an array license agreements and operation-support contracts, and managed the biotechnology division’s intellectual property portfolio of legacy and launched products.

“My time in industry enabled me to see behind the curtain on the process and potential criteria when commercializing new products,” Dr. Hawley said. “I am excited to be back on the UNeMed team as well as collaborating with the passionate inventors of UNMC and UNO. By applying my expanded skillset, my hope is to enhance the reach of university innovations and to implement alternative strategies for moving technologies forward.”

A native of Portland, Ore., Dr. Hawley is the daughter of Jay and Debbie Lakamp, and a 2004 graduate of Sunset High School. She went on to Western Oregon University in Monmouth for her biology degree in 2009. Dr. Hawley received her doctorate in cancer biology from UNMC in 2014.

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UNMC leads Nebraska to new heights in patent list

October 24, 2022 Comments (0) News Like

OMAHA, Nebraska (October 24, 2022)—UNeMed helped propel the University of Nebraska system to its best-ever ranking among the top 100 academic institutions throughout the world in earning United States patents.

The newly released report from the National Academy of Inventors and Intellectual Property Owners Association lists Nebraska at No. 64 for the number of United States patents issued in 2021. It marks the university’s fifth-straight year on the list and a climb from No. 77 in 2020.

During the 2022 Innovation Awards ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, at the Hilton Omaha, UNeMed President & CEO Michael Dixon, PhD, (left) presents UNMC researchers Howard Gendelman, MD, (center) and Benson Edagwa, PhD, with the Startup of the Year award in recognition of the recent success of Exavir Therapeutics, a company they co-founded based on the antiretroviral therapeutics they’ve developed at UNMC.

“UNMC’s mission is to create a healthier future for our state, our country and our world,” said Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD. “Our researchers’ and clinicians’ efforts are key in achieving that goal. This rapidly growing continuum of science and clinical care is a critical part of the economic development part of our mission. This ranking is an indication of their dedication, as well as that of their colleagues and collaborators through the University of Nebraska, and we take pride in their successes.”

The ranking includes patents granted in 2021 by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to the University’s technology transfer offices—UNeMed at UNMC and UNO, and NUtech Ventures in Lincoln.

In the last calendar year, UNeMed secured 28 patents for UNMC and UNO innovations—of which, an incredible 22 have been licensed for further development.

“In the biomedical space patents are an essential element because development often requires millions or billions of dollars before the product can be sold and have an impact on healthcare,” said UNeMed CEO and president, Michael Dixon, PhD. “We’re incredibly proud to see Nebraska climbing the ranks on this list because I think it is a reflection of all our efforts to bring these Nebraska innovations to the people who need them most.”

UNeMed uses patents as one way to protect the innovations of UNMC and UNO faculty, staff and students. Patents are critical to attracting the interest and support of corporate partners to fund additional development and commercialization. Corporate partners are often startup companies that create jobs, products and tax revenue for the local economy.

Among the 28 patents, six were licensed to the surgical robotics startup, Virtual Incision Corporation.

An early prototype of Virtual Incision’s MIRA surgical robot.

UNeMed manages the intellectual property portfolio for Virtual Incision, which was co-founded by Shane Farritor, PhD, an engineering professor in Lincoln and former UNMC surgeon, Dmitry Oleynikov, MD. For nearly 20 years, they have been developing the surgical robot known as MIRA, short for “miniaturized in vivo robotic assistant.” The company has received more than $100 million in venture capital investment since its founding in 2006.

The project recently received $100,000 from NASA to prepare the surgical robot for a 2024 test aboard the International Space Station.

Three patents were related to the work of UNMC inventors Howard Gendelman, MD, and Benson Edagwa, PhD, and their ultra-long acting therapies for HIV. Early testing shows the technology has potential to transform HIV treatments into a single dose given once or twice per year. Current treatment regimens often involve a strict schedule of daily doses.

A new startup, Exavir, was built around the technology, and recently secured $4 million from investors, including AlleyCorp and Gilead Sciences. UNeMed named Exavir the Startup of the Year during the 2022 Innovation Awards on Oct. 13.

A key patent out of UNO includes a self-pacing treadmill that is poised to disrupt the fitness industry. The device responds to a runner’s pace with no other inputs, decreasing speed as the runner slows from a jog to a walk, or increasing speed as a user begins to run. The self-pacing treadmill was UNeMed’s 2021 Most Promising New Invention and was licensed to a startup company called Impower Health.

Another UNMC patent related to a nutraceutical compound called Creatine HCI, was licensed to Vireo Systems and has become its centerpiece product. Based in Plattsmouth, Vireo recently announced plans for a $20 million expansion that could add 300 new jobs to the area.

Remaining UNMC patents include novel surgical devices; a nanofiber wound dressing; a new treatment for inflammatory diseases; a potentially transformative drug delivery platform; and several innovations related to improving diagnostic capabilities.

US Patents

A look at all patents UNeMed secured in 2021. Patent titles are followed by issue date, patent number and inventor names.

- Devices and Methods for Detecting and Measuring Sympathetic Vasomotion; 1/5/2021; 10,881,303; Irving Zucker, Alicia Schiller, Peter Pellegrino
- Creatine Oral Supplementation Using Creatine Hydrochloride Salt; 1/5/2021; 10,881,630; Jonathan Vennerstrom, Donald Miller, Mark Faulkner
- Polyethylene Glycol-Conjugated Glucocorticoid Prodrugs and Compositions and Methods Thereof; 3/2/2021; 10,933,071; Dong Wang, Fang Yuan, Zhenshan Jia, Xiaobei Wang
- Controlled Release Peptide Compositions and Uses Thereof; 3/16/2021; 10,945,962; Sam Sanderson, Joseph Vetro
- Pyrrolomycins and Methods of Using the Same; 3/23/2021; 10,954,192; Kenneth Bayles, Rongshi Li, Yan Liu
- Multifunctional Operational Component for Robotic Devices; 3/30/2021; 10,959,790; Shane Farritor, Amy Lehman, Mark Rentschler, Nathan Wood, Jason Dumpert, Dmitry Oleynikov
- Portable Laparoscope System; 5/18/2021; 11,006,818; Chandrakanth Are, Madhuri Are, Dennis Alexander
- Single-Arm Robotic Device with Compact Joint Design and Related Systems and Methods; 5/25/2021; 11,013,564; Shane Farritor, Joseph Palmowski
- Computational Simulation Platform for Planning of Interventional Procedures; 6/8/2021; 11,026,749; Ioannis Chatzizisis
- Survival Predictor For Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma; 6/8/2021; 11,028,444; Wing Chan, Dennis Weisenburger, Lisa Rimsza, Andrew Lister, Jan Delabie, Erlend Smeland, Harald Holte, Stein Kvaloy, Rita Braziel, Richard Fisher, Pedro Jares, Armando Lopez-Guillermo, Elias Campo Guerri, Elaine Jaffe, Georg Lenz, Wyndham Wilson, George Wright, Sandeep Dave, Louis Staudt, Randy Gascoyne, Joseph Connors, Hans-Konrad Muller-Hermelink, Andreas Rosenwald, German Ott
- Robotic Surgical Devices; Systems and Related Methods; 6/8/2021; 11,032,125; Shane Farritor, Tyler Wortman, Kyle Strabala, Ryan McCormick, Amy Lehman, Dmitry Oleynikov, Erik Markvicka
- Nanofiber Structures and Methods of Synthesis and Use Thereof; 6/15/2021; 11,033,659; Sarah Holstein, David Wiemer
- Triazole Bisphosphonate Geranylgeranyl Diphosphate Synthase Inhibitors; 6/15/2021; 11,033,560; Jingwei Xie, Jiang Jiang
- Healthcare Provider Interface for Treatment Option and Authorization; 6/22/2021; 11,043,293; Stephen Salzbrenner
- Robotic Surgical Devices; Systems; and Related Methods ; 7/6/2021; 11,051,895; Shane Farritor, Erik Mumm, Philip Chu, Nishant Kumar, Jason Dumpert, Yutaka Tsutano
- Methods; Systems; and Devices Relating to Surgical End Effectors; 7/20/2021; 11,065,050; Shane Farritor, Tom Frederick, Joe Bartels
- Dimers of Covalent NFKB Inhibitors; 8/31/2021; 11,104,684; Amarnath Natarajan, Sandeep Rana
- Surgical Devices and Methods; 9/14/2021; 11,116,537; Jason MacTaggart, Alexey Kamenskiy, Paul Deegan
- Compositions and Methods for the Delivery of Therapeutics; 9/14/2021; 11,117,904; Hani Haider, O. Andres Barrera
- Method and Apparatus for Computer Aided Surgery; 9/14/2021; 11,116,574; Benson Edagwa, Howard Gendelman, Brian Johns
- Antiviral Prodrugs and Nanoformulations Thereof; 10/26/2021; 11,154,557; Benson Edagwa, Howard Gendelman
- Platform Device and Method of Use to Assist in Anastomosis Formation; 11/2/2021; 11,160,555; Marius Florescu
- Antiviral Prodrugs and Nanoformulations Thereof; 11/9/2021; 11,166,957; Benson Edagwa, Howard Gendelman
- Precision Syringe; 11/9/2021; 11,167,091; Donny Suh, Ronald Linke, Tyler Scherr
- Quick-Release End Effector Tool Interface; 11/16/2021; 11,173,617; Shane Farritor, Tom Frederick
- Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; 11/23/2021; 11,180,499; Corey Hopkins User-Paced Exercise Equipment; 11/30/2021; 11,185,740; William Denton, Molly Schieber, Casey Wiens
- Methods for Diagnosing and Treating Parkinson’s Disease Via Measurement of Effector Memory T-Cells; 12/28/2021; 11,209,426; Howard Gendelman, R Lee Mosley, Jessica Saunders

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UNeMed co-sponsors Innovate Nebraska

October 21, 2022 Comments (0) News Like

OMAHA, Nebraska (October 20, 2022)—Today more than 100 attendees gathered at the University of Nebraska Medical Center to learn about Nebraska’s contribution and leadership in the bioscience and medtech industries. The Innovate Conference, hosted by the Greater Omaha Chamber, Bio Nebraska, Omaha Public Power District and UNeMed, put a spotlight on the many Nebraska-based medical breakthroughs and unique opportunities that have propelled advancements in public health, patient outcomes and commercial patents.

“Nebraska is a global leader in medical technology and bioscience innovation,” said Michael Dixon, PhD, president and CEO of UNeMed, the technology transfer and commercialization office for UNMC. “The research done here impacts the health and wellness of people across the world. We often think of Nebraska as an integral part of the agribusiness ecosystem, but our contributions to biotech cannot be overstated.”

The Innovate Conference featured a keynote from Jim Linder, MD, CEO of Nebraska Medicine and founder of Linseed Capital. Several panel discussions covered medtech startup companies in Nebraska, opportunities for venture capital and economic development considerations for expansion and growth. There were also VIP tours of UNMC’s Davis Global Center, iExcel and National Quarantine Center.

“These one-of-kind research and innovation centers are a crown jewel for the life science cluster we’re building here in Omaha,” said Mark Norman, senior director of business attraction and expansion for the Greater Omaha Chamber. “The Innovate Nebraska conference was a great opportunity for us to connect the amazing breakthroughs being made in Nebraska with business leaders who can help bring those innovations to market and grow our local medtech ecosystem.”

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Bin Duan named Emerging Inventor at 2022 Innovation Awards

October 14, 2022 Comments (0) Innovation Week, News Like

During opening remarks at UNeMed’s 2022 Innovation Awards ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, at the Hilton Omaha, UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey Gold, MD, told the audience he received a thank-you email earlier that day from a patient he successfully treated about 30 years ago, who was saved from a congenital heart defect with a new surgical innovation at the time. Dr. Gold said that her successful treatment started out as just an idea; an idea that was patented, licensed and eventually developed for commercial use. Holding up the printed letter, he told the roomful of UNMC and UNO innovators, “We can do this.”

OMAHA, Nebraska (October 14, 2022)—UNeMed’s annual Innovation Week concluded last night with its Research Innovation Awards Ceremony, as UNMC researcher Bin Duan, PhD, took the top prize as UNeMed’s Emerging Inventor.

Bin Duan, PhD

Other top awards included the Startup of the Year and the Most Promising New Invention of 2022. UNeMed also presented former Vice Chancellor for Research Jennifer Larson, MD, with an award in recognition and gratitude of her dedication and service to innovation and commercialization at UNMC.

The ceremony featured remarks from UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey Gold, MD, and UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, PhD. UNeMed’s CEO and President Michael Dixon, PhD, delivered a short presentation in review of the previous fiscal year.

The awards ceremony recognized all UNMC and UNO inventors who contributed to a new invention disclosure, had U.S. patent issued or had a technology licensed.

Dr. Duan, an associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, earned the Emerging Inventor award for his work in biomaterials and tissue engineering.

UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, PhD

He was listed as an inventor on 13 new inventions submitted during the last five years, and has six pending patent applications. His work focuses on novel biomaterials and biofabrication techniques—including 3D bioprinting—to enhance human regenerative processes and promote various types of wound healing. He has developed numerous hydrogels and tissue-engineered scaffolds for various clinical applications including bacterial biofilm prevention, localized drug delivery, muscle and nerve regeneration, and postoperative abdominal adhesion prevention.

Dr. Duan’s work with UNeMed’s 2015 Innovator of the Year, Tammy Kielian, PhD, on a 3D printed antibiotic craniotomy scaffold has garnered interest from more than a dozen companies, and is currently patent-pending in the U.S. and in Europe.

Dr. Duan’s two inventions from 2022 are a novel, 3D-printable bio-ink; and a 3D-printable, refillable hydrogel drug depot for localized, sustained delivery of therapeutic agents.

During the 2022 Innovation Awards ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, at the Hilton Omaha, UNO researcher Song-young Park, PhD, hoists his award for developing the Most Promising New Invention of the year with Cody Anderson (not pictured). Dr. Park’s and Anderson’s invention is a “System for Measuring Blood Pressure in Wearable Electronic Devices.”

UNeMed presented the Most Promising New Invention of 2022 award to a pair of UNO researchers in the School of Health and Kinesiology: Doctoral research assistant Cody Anderson and his graduate mentor, Song-young Park, PhD.

Their invention—a system for measuring blood pressure in wearable electronic devices, such as smart watches—produces an accurate and reliable way for people to track their blood pressure, in real-time, without the need for specialized equipment or training.

The innovative approach measures the speed of a user’s pulse wave, which spreads throughout the body with every heartbeat. Pulse wave velocity is a proven measure for finding blood pressure and blood vessel stiffness, important biomarkers for determining and predicting cardiovascular health.

The innovation could allow people to monitor and control their cardiovascular health virtually anywhere—while also helping reduce cardiovascular disease and associated costs.

Cody Anderson

Finally, UNeMed presented UNMC researchers Howard Gendelman, MD, and Benson Edagwa, PhD, with the 2022 Startup of the Year Award for the company they co-founded: Exavir Therapeutics.

Dr. Gendelman is Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience. Dr. Edagwa is an Associate Professor in the same department.

Exavir Therapeutics is currently developing ultra-long-acting antiretroviral nanomedicines. These nanomedicines enable long-acting slow effective release of antiretroviral therapy over time, potentially allowing for dosing once every six months or longer.

Exavir Therapeutics is also working on developing CRISPR-Cas9-based therapies as a potential cure for HIV infections.

Former UNMC Vice Chancellor for Research, Jennifer Larsen, MD, (left) accepts an award from UNeMed President and CEO Michael Dixon.

In May 2022, Exavir Therapeutics successfully closed on a $4 million seed-financing round that will help advance Exavir’s lead formulation toward a clinical trial.

During 2022 Innovation Awards ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, at the Hilton Omaha, UNeMed President & CEO Michael Dixon, PhD, (left) presents UNMC researchers Howard Gendelman, MD, (center) and Benson Edagwa, PhD, with the Startup of of the Year award in recognition of the recent success of Exavir Therapeutics, a company they co-founded based on the antiretroviral therapeutics they’ve developed at UNMC.

Innovation Week began, Monday, Oct. 10 with the Kick-Off that featured free T-shirts, coffee and doughnuts, along with the chance to meet UNeMed staff—followed by a panel discussion about technology transfer and commercialization. Innovation Week continued on Tuesday with a seminar about drug discovery and a networking event at a local tavern. Then, on Wednesday, UNeMed hosted two more seminars beginning with a entrepreneur faculty mixer in the morning and software commercialization panel in the afternoon.

Prior to the awards ceremony on Thursday, UNeMed hosted a panel discussion about SBIR/STTR grant awards.

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.

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Innovation Awards are tonight

October 13, 2022 Comments (0) Innovation Week, News Like

OMAHA, Neb. (October 13, 2022)—Innovation Week wraps up today with two more events, culminating with the anticipated 16th annual Research Innovation Awards ceremony.

At noon, UNeMed will host a discussion about the federal SBIR/STTR Grant program, where expert panelists will cover best practices for those awards. The panel will be at UNO’s main campus at the Weitz Community Engagement Center, and complimentary lunch will be provided to the first 30 guests.

Finally, Innovation Week concludes tonight with the Awards program at Hilton Omaha, located near 10th and Cass Streets in downtown Omaha.

An invitation-only event, the Innovation Awards will begin with a networking cocktail hour at 5 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony. The ceremony will honor all UNMC and UNO inventors who disclosed a new invention, received a U.S. patent, or had their technology licensed during the previous fiscal year.

UNeMed will also present special awards recognizing an Emerging Inventor, the Most Promising New Invention of the Year, and a Startup of the Year.

Innovation Week began on Monday, Oct. 10, with a Kick-Off event in the DRC atrium, and a panel group that examined the basics of technology transfer and commercialization at UNMC and UNO. The next day, UNeMed held two more events, a drug discovery seminar and a networking event.

Yesterday, Innovation Week featured a faculty entrepreneurship mixer and a panel discussion that looked at issues related to software intellectual property and commercialization.

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Innovation Week: Two events on tap today

October 12, 2022 Comments (0) Innovation Week, News Like

OMAHA, Neb. (October 12, 2022)—Innovation Week continues today with two more events: One mixer and one panel discussion aimed at faculty, staff and students at UNMC and UNO.

Starting at 9 a.m., in the Wigton Heritage Center atrium at UNMC, UNeMed will host the Faculty Entrepreneurship Mixer. It will feature UNMC researcher-inventor-entrepreneur, Dong Wang, PhD, who will present brief remarks about his experience starting and developing a new company around his innovations. Co-sponsor IDeA-CTR will provide coffee and doughnuts on a first-come, first-served basis.

Then, at noon, a panel discussion will cover issues related to software intellectual property and commercialization. This event will be held at Maverick Landing on UNO’s Scott Campus. A complimentary lunch will be provided to the first 30 guests.

Innovation Week wraps up on Thursday, Oct. 13, with two more events.

At noon, UNeMed will host a discussion about the federal SBIR/STTR Grant program, where expert panelists will cover best practices for those awards. The panel will be at UNO’s main campus at the Weitz Community Engagement Center, and complimentary lunch will be provided to the first 30 guests.

Finally, Innovation Week culminates Thursday evening with the Innovation Awards at Hilton Omaha, located near 10th and Cass Streets in downtown Omaha.

An invitation-only event, the Awards program will begin with a networking cocktail hour at 5 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony. The ceremony will honor all UNMC and UNO inventors who disclosed a new invention, received a U.S. patent, or had their technology licensed during the previous fiscal year.

UNeMed will also present special awards recognizing an Emerging Inventor, the Most Promising New Invention of the Year, and a Startup of the Year.

Based at UNMC, the Great Plains IDeA-CTR stands for the National Institute of Health’s Institutional Development Award program infrastructure for Clinical & Translational Research. The Great Plains IDeA-CTR is a collaborative effort between nine regional institutions that provides training, resources, education, mentorship and funding to regional researchers.

Innovation Week began on Monday, Oct. 10, with a Kick-Off event in the DRC atrium, and a panel group that examined the basics of technology transfer and commercialization at UNMC and UNO.

On Tuesday, Oct. 11, UNeMed held two events, a drug discovery seminar for academic researchers and a networking event aimed at current and aspiring entrepreneurs.

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Drug Discovery seminar, networking event key today’s I-Week slate

October 11, 2022 Comments (0) Innovation Week, News Like

OMAHA, Neb. (October 11, 2022)—Innovation Week continues today with two events, a drug discovery seminar for academic researchers and a networking event aimed at current and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Starting at noon, UNeMed will a virtual seminar entitled, “Academic Drug Discovery Support.” Maaike Everts, PhD, the executive director at Critical Path’s Translational Therapeutics Accelerator will lead the hour-long discussion. Anyone may join the session via Zoom at https://bit.ly/Iweek22DrugDiscovery.

Then, at 4-6 p.m., UNeMed and the Omaha Chamber of Commerce will host the networking event, “Idea Pub: Innovation & Libations,” at Rathskeller Bier Haus. Idea Pub is aimed at University entrepreneurs and inventors, along with potential investors and commercial partners from the region.

Innovation Week will continue tomorrow, with two additional events.

Starting at 9 a.m., in the Wigton Heritage Center atrium, UNeMed will host a Faculty Entrepreneurship Mixer. It will feature UNMC researcher-inventor-entrepreneur, Dong Wang, PhD, who will present brief remarks about his experience starting and developing a new company around his innovations. Co-sponsor IDeA-CTR will provide coffee and doughnuts on a first-come, first-served basis.

At noon, a panel discussion will cover issues related to software intellectual property and commercialization. This event will be held at Maverick Landing on UNO’s Scott Campus. A complimentary lunch will be provided to the first 30 guests.

Innovation Week wraps up on Thursday, Oct. 13, with two more events.

At noon, UNeMed will host a discussion about the federal SBIR/STTR Grant program, where expert panelists will cover best practices for those awards. The panel will be at UNO’s main campus at the Weitz Community Engagement Center, and complimentary lunch will be provided to the first 30 guests.

Finally, Innovation Week culminates Thursday evening with the Innovation Awards at Hilton Omaha, located near 10th and Cass Streets in downtown Omaha.

An invitation-only event, the Awards program will begin with a networking cocktail hour at 5 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony. The ceremony will honor all UNMC and UNO inventors who disclosed a new invention, received a U.S. patent, or had their technology licensed during the previous fiscal year.

UNeMed will also present special awards recognizing an Emerging Inventor, the Most Promising New Invention of the Year, and a Startup of the Year.

Based at UNMC, the Great Plains IDeA-CTR stands for the National Institute of Health’s Institutional Development Award program infrastructure for Clinical & Translational Research. The Great Plains IDeA-CTR is a collaborative effort between nine regional institutions that provides training, resources, education, mentorship and funding to regional researchers.

Innovation Week began on Monday, Oct. 10, with a Kick-Off event in the DRC atrium, and a panel group that examined the basics of technology transfer and commercialization at UNMC and UNO.

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UNeMed’s 2022 Annual Report is now available

October 10, 2022 Comments (0) News Like

OMAHA, Nebraska (October 10, 2022)—UNeMed released today its 2022 annual report, detailing key metrics, highlights and notable achievements during the fiscal year ending in 2022.

The report focuses on UNeMed’s most recent highlights, including success stories related to startups RespirAI Medical, Virtual Incision, and Exavir Therapeutics.

RespirAI is a startup built on a University of Nebraska at Omaha innovation that could help patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. Near the end of the calendar year, RespirAI closed a successful financing round worth almost $1 million.

Virtual Incision, a surgical robotics company built on a collaboration between a former University of Nebraska Medical Center surgeon and a University of Nebraska-Lincoln engineer, announced plans of an up-coming clinical trial. To date, Virtual Incision has raised more than $100 million.

Exavir Therapeutics also announced a successful financing effort, closing a seed round with $4 million in investments, led by AlleyCorp and Gilead Sciences. Exavir was co-founded by UNMC researchers Howard Gendelman, MD, and Benson Edagwa, PhD, who are working on ultra-long-acting antiretroviral therapies for HIV.

The annual report also looks back at new initiatives UNeMed launched or joined during the previous fiscal year, such as their first “Back-o-the-Napkin” contest, the “Innovations & Libations” networking event, and a national program geared toward helping build the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.

In addition to presenting core metrics for all of UNeMed’s activities, the annual report also features several portfolio technologies with great potential for additional development.

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 kicks off today

October 10, 2022 Comments (0) Innovation Week, News Like

OMAHA, Neb. (October 10, 2022)—Innovation Week begins this morning when UNeMed staffers host the Innovation Week Kick-Off in the Durham Research Center atrium from 9-11 a.m. Shortly after, UNeMed will also host a Tech Transfer 101 panel discussion at 11:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m.

Kick-Off is an open house that features giveaways, T-shirts and a chance to mingle with UNeMed staff. Complimentary coffee and a free doughnut will also be provided all attendees, as long as supplies last.

The panel discussion, to be held in Room 1004 of the Durham Research Tower I, will feature several UNeMed staff who will discuss key points of innovation and commercialization in academia. The event is aimed at anyone interested in developing innovations beyond something that only lives in an academic journal or the back of a napkin.

The Great Plains IDeA-CTR will provide a free lunch to the first 30 guests.

Innovation Week is a series of events hosted by UNeMed to celebrate and honor the innovations and discoveries at UNMC and UNO each year.

Innovation Week continues Tuesday with two more events, starting at noon, with a virtual seminar entitled, “Academic Drug Discovery Support.” Maaike Everts, PhD, the executive director at Critical Path’s Translational Therapeutics Accelerator will lead the hour-long discussion. Anyone may join the session via Zoom at https://bit.ly/Iweek22DrugDiscovery.

Then, at 4-6 p.m., UNeMed and the Omaha Chamber of Commerce will host a networking event, “Idea Pub: Innovation & Libations,” at Rathskeller Bier Haus. Idea Pub is aimed at University entrepreneurs and inventors, along with potential investors and commercial partners from the region.

Two additional events are set for Wednesday, Oct. 12.