Adrian Blake, CEO at UNMC startup Precision Syringe, demonstrates the functions of his company’s innovative one-handed syringe during the networking portion of UNeMed’s Morning Edition on Aug. 29, 2024.

OMAHA, Nebraska (September 5, 2024)—UNeMed’s “Idea Pub: Morning Edition” successfully completed its fifth installment last week, focusing on state funding and prototyping services that Nebraska provides for academic innovators and entrepreneurs.

Morning Edition featured several speakers, keyed by brief remarks from Ben Kuspa, the Business Innovation Manager at the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.

Ben Kuspa, the Business Innovation Manager at the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, delivers remarks during UNeMed’s Idea Pub: Morning Edition on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in the DRC atrium at UNMC.

Kuspa touched on several programs available through the state, including a prototyping development program; SBIR/STTR funding opportunities for startups; available grants for additional research and development; and the potential to feed into the state’s larger entrepreneurial funding and support program, Invest Nebraska.

Adrian Blake, CEO of UNMC startup Precision Syringe, spoke briefly about his company’s journey through the various state services. Precision Syringe is based on an innovation developed by former UNMC pediatric ophthalmologist Donny Suh, MD, who wanted more precision and dexterity when administering eye injections on children. The result is a one-handed syringe with a wide range of possible applications that include ophthalmology, dermatology, cosmetology and animal health.

Precision Syringe leaned heavily on the state’s various grant opportunities, particularly in the development of early prototypes. The company now hopes to apply for FDA approval before the end of next summer, but getting to that point has been a long road, Blake said.

“It is a great leap of faith, because you have to learn how to speak each other’s language,” he said, referring to business-minded investors and entrepreneurs working with inventive researchers and healthcare professionals. “Just because something is scientifically amazing and beautiful doesn’t mean it’s commercially viable.”

UNeMed, the technology transfer and commercialization office for UNMC and UNO, sponsored the event, which will continue as a regular monthly series. The series will continue to feature guest speakers from the entrepreneurial ecosystem; and 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 next Morning Edition is planned for Thursday, Sept. 26, at 9-11 a.m. in the DRC II commons. The featured speaker will be Ben Williamson, Principal and general counsel at Invest Nebraska, the state of Nebraska’s venture capital investment program.

Morning Edition will continue on the last Thursday of every month, featuring a new speaker each time. Each Morning Edition will also feature “Office Hours,” with UNeMed and MOVE, a pre-seed and seed venture capital firm focused on investing in Nebraska technology startup companies. 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.

Additional planned speakers in the coming months include, in no particular order:

• Ben Walker, Innosphere: How you can benefit from a life sciences incubator program
• Scott Henderson, NMotion: When should you apply to the NMotion accelerator?
• Stephen Hug, UNeTech: Adventures in faculty/entrepreneur matchmaking