Boston Scientific Corp. has exercised its option to acquire the remaining shares of University of Iowa startup Farapulse Inc., which has developed a method for precisely and safely treating abnormal heart rhythms. Last September, Boston Scientific signed an investment agreement with an option to acquire Farapulse (originally Iowa Approach), a company founded by UI Assistant Professor of Internal...

A growing number of Iowa-based companies trace their roots to federally funded University of Iowa research that helps them create jobs, generate wages, boost the local and state economy, and produce new knowledge, inventions, and services, according to a recent report by The Science Coalition (TSC). The report, “Sparking Economic Growth: How Fundamental Research Drives Economic Growth and...

Research on faulty genetic material by University of Iowa (UI) Carver College of Medicine professor Christopher Ahern recently was licensed by Tevard Biosciences, a company that is seeking to treat certain forms of epilepsy. However, the innovative UI treatment approach being developed by Tevard holds the promise of becoming a platform with medical applications far beyond those for epilepsy. The...

University of Iowa spinoff Cardio Diagnostics Inc., a company that assesses genetic and epigenetic DNA markers to monitor a patient's risk for heart disease, was recently selected a “one to watch” in this year’s inaugural Spinoff Prize, organized by Nature Research and Merck KGaA. The prize is intended to showcase and celebrate global excellence in the commercialization of research through the...

A University of Iowa (UI) spin-out company developing a drug-delivering mechanism to prevent the onset of post-traumatic osteoarthritis recently earned second place—and $25,000—in the 2019 John Pappajohn Iowa Entrepreneurial Venture Competition. CartilaGen, which licensed university intellectual property through the UI Research Foundation (UIRF), focuses on preventative therapies for the onset of...

A system designed by a University of Iowa ophthalmologist that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to detect diabetic retinopathy without a person interpreting the results earned Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorization in April, following a clinical trial in primary care offices. Results of that study were published Aug. 28 online in Nature Digital Medicine, offering the first look at data...

University of Iowa spinout company Voxello, which develops technologies that allow hospitalized patients to overcome communication barriers, recently received three grants to help advance its research and development. Voxello received a $44,900 grant from the Philadelphia Pediatric Device Consortium (PPDC), a $1,006,000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 2 award from the National...

University of Iowa startup company SynderBio Inc. was the winner of a pitch competition held July 18 as part of the UI Ventures-sponsored Iowa Connect: Medical Technology Symposium. The half-day event focused on the challenges of developing university research-based medical products, providing talks and networking opportunities. The event included a panel discussion featuring business leaders and...

Having clear and up-to-date protocols and policies around intellectual property (IP) is critically important for moving discovery at the University of Iowa forward. It ensures that inventions by faculty and staff are clearly identified, adequately protected, and leveraged in a way that benefits the inventor, the university, and the public—should the IP eventually translate into a commercial...

The deadline has been extended to receive nominations for the Discovery and Innovation Awards, which honor University of Iowa faculty, staff and student research, innovation, mentorship and startup success.

Nominations are open for University of Iowa faculty, staff, and student researchers, creators, mentors, and entrepreneurs for the UI’s annual Discovery & Innovation Awards Ceremony, which will be held in April 2017.

University of Iowa faculty interested in learning how to translate their research into a device, service, or business are invited to apply to the UI’s Faculty Innovators Workshop, a four-week version of the UI Venture School designed to help participants develop marketable ideas and accelerate the startup process. The next cohort starts Oct. 25, and workshop sessions run from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Oct...