Faculty innovators from across the University of Iowa took the stage this spring for the inaugural Office of Innovation GAP Pitch Competition, presenting therapeutics and medical device technologies with the potential to improve patient care and advance toward commercialization. 

The competition brought together eight faculty-led teams to pitch pre-company healthcare innovations to a panel of venture capitalists and industry leaders from the healthcare, pharmaceutical, and medical device sectors. Designed to accelerate the translation of university research into startup and licensing opportunities, the event awarded $25,000 in non-dilutive funding in each of two categories: Therapeutics and Medical Devices. 

The GAP Pitch Competition served as the culminating event for recipients of Fall 2025 Innovation GAP Funding. Throughout the program, participating teams engaged in monthly educational sessions, commercialization programming, and dedicated pitch preparation to strengthen their technologies and position them for future investment opportunities. 

Therapeutics Category 

Faculty innovators competing in the Therapeutics category included: 

• James Byrne, Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology 

• Ashley Cooney, Research Assistant Professor of Pediatrics 

Therapeutics Winner: Ashley Cooney. Ashley's project is an eye drop that leverages pulmonary-surfactant science to lock in moisture for hours — without blurry vision and safe for contact lens wearers.

Medical Device Category 

Faculty innovators competing in the Medical Device category included: 

Medical Device Winner: Madaline Mocchi. Maddie is building a biomarker-driven platform to rapidly identify the most effective stimulation treatments, enabling personalized care and better long‑term outcomes for individuals experiencing depression.