On March 28, the Jacobs Institute (JI) announced the launch of its i2R, or Idea to Reality Center, a vascular medical device proof-of-concept center, that will bring life-saving interventions to market sooner. The JI also announced its partners that will assist in navigating the regulatory path, engineering medical devices, and providing data analytics expertise. The i2R's first two projects were revealed, showcasing a medical simulation collaboration project with Moog Inc. and an innovative  medical device with Silicon Valley-based company, Spinnaker.

     

JI's Chief Executive Officer, Bill Maggio, said, "In keeping with  The Future of Medicine book, the JI is launching its i2R, to accelerate future innovations in the treatment of stroke and heart attack, which are devastating the WNY community at rates higher than both the New York state and national average." Maggio added, "One of our goals is to spin out start-ups from the i2R and encourage them to stay and create jobs right here in Buffalo. There is a reason why Buffalo ha s raised its visibility as a desirable destination for start-ups. The JI plans to leverage that reputation and th e entrepreneurial ecosystem."

Jerry Jacobs, Jr., Co-Chief Executive Officer of Delaware North Companies, joined for the event, and reflected on his uncle Dr. Lawrence D. Jacobs' legacy and i2R's mission of commercializing medical innovations and impacting Western NY healthcare and economic development.

 

Corporate Partnerships  

 

JI's i2R partners NAMSA, Naglreiter, and local co mpany, CUBRC, will assist in navigating the federal regulatory pathway for medical device approval, providing medical device engineering experience, and data analytics expertise critical for product testing, respectively. "The possibilities for vascular device development in the i2R, is now limitless. We have the right corporate partners, the right projects, and the right people, at the right time. The i2R streamlines and accelerates a challenging process, thereby bringing life-saving vascular devices to reality more easily," said L. Nelson Hopkins, MD, chief scientific officer. 

 

First Projects with 

Moog Inc. and Spinnaker

JI is expanding into novel, innovative ventures in the medical space. Buffalo-based Moog Inc. will support these collaboration

effor ts w ith currently designed medical simulators for dental and eye surgery simulation situated at the JI. They will provide

exposure to the broader medical community where brainstorming and feedback on the technologies can be used for enabling new medical products and services. Additionally, the i2R is fortunate to partner with Spinnaker and work with top minds in vascular medical de vice innovation. Spinnaker co-founder, Martin Dieck, said that owed to the JI's location between UB and the Gates Vascular Institute, the JI provides a unique system of support in developing workable prototypes. JI chief medical officer, Adnan H. Siddiqui, MD, said, "We are eager to collaborate and create life-changing technology with Moog Inc. and Spinnaker."

The JI is grateful for the support of Empire State  Development, James H. Cummings Foundation, Stanford Lipsey  Philanthropic Fund, The Frank L. Ciminelli Family Foundation, The Gerald and Sandra Lippes Foundation, The John R. Oishei  Foundation, The M&T Charitable Foundation, The Margaret L.  Wendt Foundation, The Roche Foundation, and The Seymour H. Knox Foundation.

JI also expresses gratitutde for the generosity of our early supporters, without whom today would not be possible: Jeremy M. & Margaret Jacobs and Family, Dr. Lawrence D. & Pamela Jacobs and Family, Scott & Lisa Friedman, Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP, Kimberly Rich Lupkin, Frank & Donna McGuire, Reginald & Carol Newman, Brian & Candace O'Mara, and Manson & Anne Surdam.