University of Iowa teams pitch pre-company therapeutics and medical device concepts, competing for up to $25,000 in funding.
The Office of Innovation GAP Pitch Competition is a competitive showcase of faculty-led, early-stage health care inventions emerging from across the University of Iowa, designed to accelerate the translation of research into startup or licensing opportunities.
The event will feature two categories — Therapeutics and Medical Devices — with teams pitching pre-company concepts to a panel of venture capitalists and industry leaders from the health care, pharmaceutical, and medical device sectors.
The competition will award up to $25,000 in non-dilutive funding per category, highlighting the university’s continued commitment to entrepreneurship, commercialization, and translational impact.
Therapeutics Pitches:
James Byrne, Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology
Ashley Cooney, Research Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Adam Mailloux, Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Immunology
William Thiel, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine–Cardiovascular Medicine
Medical Device Pitches:
Martha Carvour, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine–Infectious Diseases
Christopher Hogden, Assistant Professor of Endodontics
Maddie Mocchi, Iowa Neuroscience Specialty Program in Research Education Postdoctoral Fellow
Kamel Shibbani, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics–Cardiology
Agenda
2–3 p.m.: Therapeutics Pitches
3–3:30 p.m.: Gallery Walk – During the break between pitches, stop by the gallery walk to get to know more about Office of Innovation programs and services, including Protostudios, Iowa MADE, Iowa Nurse Innovators, and the University of Iowa Research Park.
3:30–4:30 p.m.: Medical Device Pitches
4:30–5 p.m.: Award Presentation and Social
The teams pitching at this event were awarded Fall 2025 Innovation GAP Funding and have participated in required programming, including monthly sessions and dedicated pitch preparation, to advance their technologies and prepare for additional investment.
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Disability Accommodations
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Amber Cardona in advance at amber-cardona@uiowa.edu.