University of Iowa Office of Research and Economic Development (OVPR&ED), the City of Iowa City, the Iowa City Area Development Group (ICAD), and the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center are hosting a grand opening for MERGE and protostudios on June 15 from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. The new collaboration space for entrepreneurs is housed at 136 S. Dubuque Street on the pedestrian mall in downtown Iowa...

A medical device developed at the University of Iowa that assists impaired hospital patients communicate with health care providers recently received regulatory clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The device, called the noddle, was developed by UI Communication Sciences and Disorders Professor Emeritus Richard Hurtig, now Chief Scientific Officer of the parent company...

University of Iowa affiliated companies Behavioral Diagnostics and CartilaGen are two of a dozen emerging startup companies selected to compete at the Partnering for Growth’s Biotech Innovation Showcase on March 21 in Ankeny, Iowa. The companies selected represent a cross section of biotech industry including agricultural technology, human health, animal health and bio materials.

Austin, Texas-based Applied Food Sciences Inc. recently opened a new branch of its company at the University of Iowa’s BioVentures Center in the UI Research Park. Applied Food Sciences is a natural ingredient supplier specializing in botanical extracts for food, beverages and supplements.

The University of Iowa Foundation (UIRF) and UI Ventures are committed to helping faculty protect intellectual property and translate research into commercially viable licensing opportunities and startups. The two teams can help faculty understand and navigate the sometimes-challenging terrain of IP protection, whether this is their first experience in this area or they’re a seasoned pro. “IP...

Viewpoint Molecular Targeting, LLC founders met with Iowa legislators at the National Council on Entrepreneurial Tech Transfer (NCET2) National Demo Day. The purpose was to educate them on the key role university based biomedical startups play in creating high value jobs and in improving national economic and social competitiveness.

Immortagen, Inc., a University of Iowa spinoff venture, announced it has completed its Series A equity financing. Led by John Pappajohn of Des Moines, Iowa, Immortagen has already hired its initial scientists and begun increasing its industry presence, while pushing forward with several product platforms. Launched in 2014 by UI researchers Donghai Dai, M.D., Ph.D., MS; Kristina Thiel, Ph.D.; Baoli...

After a 38-year engineering career, Neil Quellhorst’s retirement years aren’t being lived on the golf course. He was recently hired by MERGE, a collaborative design and prototype lab geared toward entrepreneurs in tech fields, to serve as engineering prototype director. In his long career beginning with a series of small, entrepreneurial companies, then with Honeywell and later Rockwell Collins...

SantosHuman, Inc., a spinoff company that grew out of ongoing research at the University of Iowa, recently announced the release of a new plug-in module to its line of virtual human modeling and simulation software. Santos® Arm’s Force Field provides SantosHuman’s clients with the only existing way to access the most accurate, validated method to predict manual arm strength available today.

The University of Iowa Research Foundation (UIRF) has hired Paula DeGrandis as its first-ever intellectual property attorney. DeGrandis received her J.D. from Northern Illinois University in 1998 and holds an M.S. in Molecular Biology. She has worked with both large and small companies and has experience in intellectual property strategy development and implementation, integration of business...

University of Iowa startup company SynderBio Inc. has received $25,000 from the Iowa Economic Development Authority Board Proof of Commercial Relevance (POCR) Fund.

The University of Iowa Research Foundation (UIRF) has named Jane Garrity, previously Senior Licensing Associate for the Office of Economic Innovation and Partnerships at the University of Delaware, as Associate Director of Licensing effective Dec. 7. In her new position, Garrity will lead the UIRF licensing team, developing new strategies and initiatives to increase collaboration with researchers...