OMAHA, Nebraska (October 30, 2023)—Innovation Week, UNeMed Corporation’s 17th annual celebration of the world-class research and discovery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the University of Nebraska at Omaha, begins today at 9-11 a.m. in the Durham Research Center atrium.

The Innovation Week Kickoff is an open house that will feature mingling opportunities with UNeMed staff, free T-shirts, coffee, doughnuts and other goodies. Free and open to all, the Kickoff is a good chance to learn more about technology transfer, and the commercialization process of a university innovation.

Innovation Week will continue on Tuesday, Oct. 31, at noon when UNeMed hosts an hour-long virtual seminar, “Regulatory Insights.” Margaret Kober, a project manager with the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, will share her insights, tips and strategies for Investigational New Drug Applications and the review process. Anyone may join the session via Zoom at https://bit.ly/Iweek23FDAinsights.

Two additional events are planned for Wednesday, Nov. 1, beginning with panel discussion in th eSorrell Center (room 2010) at 9-11 a.m. and then the “Startup Showcase” at 4:30 p.m.

The panel discussion, “Women Innovators,” will feature three successful University of Nebraska inventors who will share their experiences with creating, developing and commercializing an innovation. Coffee and doughnuts will be available to attendees on a first-come, first-served basis. Panelists will include Elizabeth Bream, PhD, associate professor in the College of Nursing; Rebekah Gundry, PhD, Chair of UNMC’s Department of Cellular & Integrative Physiology; and Breanna Hetland, PhD, an assistant professor in UNMC’s College of Nursing.

“Idea Pub: Startup Pitch Showcase” will be held in the Wigton Heritage Center atrium. The Startup Showcase will run about two hours, and will highlight a handful of recent and successful startup companies that were all founded on innovations developed by University inventors. Free drinks will be provided, along with excellent networking opportunities to meet local entrepreneurs, investors, inventors and other members of the local startup community.

Innovation Week concludes on the evening of Thursday, Nov. 2, with the Innovation Awards at Hilton Omaha, located near 10th and Cass Streets in downtown Omaha.

An invitation-only event, the Awards 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.

Further details can be found on UNeMed’s Innovation Week page.