Office of Innovation News

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James Byrne Healing in a Bubble Headshot

‘Healing in a bubble’: UI researcher publishes prize essay in 'Science'

Thursday, April 23, 2026
James Byrne named a finalist for the 2026 BioInnovation Institute & Science Prize for Innovation
Graphic that says Laura Rankin Innovation Fund with photo of Laura Rankin in the forefront and lab in the background

Investing in Innovation That Moves Care Forward

Monday, February 2, 2026
Laura Rankin (73MD) is helping fuel early-stage, clinician-driven innovation at the University of Iowa through the Laura Rankin Innovation Fund within the Office of Innovation.
Woman stands in front of an audience and projection screen presenting about her startup idea the scrotal sling

Iowa Nurse Innovators Pitch Competition 2025

Wednesday, December 17, 2025
$17,000 was awarded to three Iowa Nurses to support the advancement of innovations designed to improve patient care, enhance safety, and streamline clinical workflows.
UIHC Campus Drone Shot

Office of Innovation Awards 11 Innovation GAP Fund Projects Totaling $109,000

Thursday, December 11, 2025
The Innovation GAP Fund supports early-stage technology development across the University of Iowa, helping innovators de-risk research-based innovation with commercial potential. 
Zach Richards headshot

From Operating Room to Innovation Hub

Tuesday, December 9, 2025
For Zac Richards, the Iowa Innovation Leadership Fellowship represents “plugging into Iowa’s innovation ecosystem” and learning from founders, intellectual property experts, and venture capitalists who’ve successfully brought medical technologies to market.
Photo of Kaitriana Colling

PhD student’s research advances treatments for uterine cancer

Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Katie Colling was named winner of the 2025 3MT competition
Aerial photo of University of Iowa campus

UI receives national recognition for commitment to economic growth

Thursday, October 9, 2025
The University of Iowa has been recognized by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) as an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University, a national designation that recognizes the university’s strong support of economic and community development.
Jen Streeter photographed with heart

Seeing the Heart Differently: How Jen Streeter Is Reinventing Coronary Imaging and the Research Model Behind It

Monday, August 18, 2025
Dr. Jen Streeter and her team at the University of Iowa are pioneering the Iowa Living Human Heart Research Program and developing Radiopaque Aptamer Dimers (RADs), innovative contrast agents designed to improve cardiac imaging while reducing kidney risks, exemplifying how clinician insight and cross-campus collaboration can drive transformative healthcare solutions.
Suresh and Syed.jpg

$2.55M grant backs medical device combating chronic lung disease

Tuesday, August 12, 2025
A new tool to help patients with chronic lung diseases, being studied at the University of Iowa (UI) College of Engineering, has received a $2.55 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.

Media Highlights

Dr. Bob Cargill talks about the impact of the Dead Sea Scrolls on the interpretation of the Bible during the first official event of the partnership between the University of Iowa and the Downtown District at Prairie Lights Cafe in Iowa City, IA, on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. Dr. Bob Cargill has been teaching archaeology at the University of Iowa since 2011.

UI, Iowa City Downtown District host first event in First Round Series

Thursday, February 19, 2026
After announcing the partnership on Feb. 10, the first event in the series was held at the Prairie Lights Cafe with UI associate professor Robert Cargill.
Logo that says First Round with a beer pint glass in the middle of the two words

Iowa City Downtown District partners with University of Iowa on First Round, monthly networking series

Friday, February 13, 2026
The Iowa City Downtown District has partnered with the University of Iowa Office of Innovation to bring university researchers into its First Round monthly networking series.

Upcoming Events

Food Truck Tuesdays at the Iowa Research Park promotional image

Food Truck Tuesdays at the Iowa Research Park

Tuesday, May 19, 2026 11:30am to 1:30pm
UI Bioventures Center
Food Truck Tuesdays feature a rotating lineup of local food trucks on the third Tuesday of each month, May through October, at the BioVentures Center.
Office of Innovation GAP Pitch Competition promotional image

Office of Innovation GAP Pitch Competition

Thursday, May 21, 2026 2:00pm to 5:00pm
College of Pharmacy Building
University of Iowa teams pitch pre-company therapeutics and medical device concepts, competing for up to $25,000 in funding.
Food Truck Tuesdays at the Iowa Research Park promotional image

Food Truck Tuesdays at the Iowa Research Park

Tuesday, June 16, 2026 11:30am to 1:30pm
UI Bioventures Center
Food Truck Tuesdays feature a rotating lineup of local food trucks on the third Tuesday of each month, May through October, at the BioVentures Center.
Food Truck Tuesdays at the Iowa Research Park promotional image

Food Truck Tuesdays at the Iowa Research Park

Tuesday, July 21, 2026 11:30am to 1:30pm
UI Bioventures Center
Food Truck Tuesdays feature a rotating lineup of local food trucks on the third Tuesday of each month, May through October, at the BioVentures Center.
Food Truck Tuesdays at the Iowa Research Park promotional image

Food Truck Tuesdays at the Iowa Research Park

Tuesday, August 18, 2026 11:30am to 1:30pm
UI Bioventures Center
Food Truck Tuesdays feature a rotating lineup of local food trucks on the third Tuesday of each month, May through October, at the BioVentures Center.
Food Truck Tuesdays at the Iowa Research Park promotional image

Food Truck Tuesdays at the Iowa Research Park

Tuesday, September 15, 2026 11:30am to 1:30pm
UI Bioventures Center
Food Truck Tuesdays feature a rotating lineup of local food trucks on the third Tuesday of each month, May through October, at the BioVentures Center.

Past Events

Discover the Iowa Lions Eye Bank | Discover Your University promotional image

Discover the Iowa Lions Eye Bank | Discover Your University

Wednesday, September 18, 2024 3:00pm to 4:30pm
UI Bioventures Center

The Sept. 18 Iowa Lions Eye Bank tour is currently full. Please consider attending a different event or click the sign-up link below to join the waitlist – spots may come open.

Iowa Lions Eye Bank (ILEB), part of the UI Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, is the only eye bank in the state of Iowa and supports all 99 counties.

ILEB visitors are invited to learn how eye bank staff recover, evaluate, process, and distribute ocular tissue donated by generous individuals for use in...

SSBCI Lunch + Learn promotional image

SSBCI Lunch + Learn

Wednesday, September 18, 2024 11:30am to 1:00pm
UI Bioventures Center

Did you know that Iowa has a $96 million investment from the Department of Treasury to support Iowa's small businesses, including startups, manufacturers, and businesses owned by veterans and individuals from diverse backgrounds?

Join us for a free lunch-and-learn informational panel event at The University of Iowa Research Park, BioVentures Center on Wednesday, Sept. 18 to learn about the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) programs. The panel is made up of leaders from the...

Discover the Driving Safety Research Institute | Discover Your University promotional image

Discover the Driving Safety Research Institute | Discover Your University

Wednesday, September 18, 2024 9:00am to 10:00am
National Advanced Driving Simulator Building

The University of Iowa Driving Safety Research Institute (DSRI) is home to the National Advanced Driving Simulator, one of the world's largest and most advanced driving simulators, as well as a fleet of on-road research vehicles.

As part of the College of Engineering, DSRI investigators aim to make our roads safer by researching the connections between humans and vehicles. Their areas of expertise include driver behavior; automated vehicle technology; drugged, drowsy, and distracted driving...