JobsOhio has announced the Ohio Discovery Corridor, a transformative initiative connecting Ohio's Innovation Districts in Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland. Supported by a $3 billion investment from anchor institutions, the state, and JobsOhio, this corridor fosters unprecedented collaboration across life sciences, technology, and beyond. Over the next decade, it aims to produce 47,500 additional STEM graduates and generate an estimated 60,000 new jobs, positioning Ohio as a hub of innovation in the Midwest. (Link)
CincyTech, a prominent early-stage investor in healthcare and life sciences technology, has announced a strategic partnership with St. Elizabeth Healthcare. This collaboration aims to advance healthcare innovation by leveraging cutting-edge technologies and research to improve patient outcomes. St. Elizabeth will provide clinical insights to CincyTech’s investment decisions and may serve as a trial site for emerging technologies from CincyTech’s portfolio. This partnership reflects both organizations' commitment to transformative healthcare advancements. St. Elizabeth, with extensive regional reach, supports this initiative as part of its mission to enhance patient care and healthcare efficiency in the Greater Cincinnati area. (Link)
Blackrock Neurotech has officially partnered with Noldus Information Technology, a leader in behavioral research solutions, to create an integrated neuroscience platform. By combining Blackrock’s advanced neural recording systems with Noldus' EthoVision XT tracking technology, researchers can now synchronize neural and behavioral data in real-time. This collaboration streamlines workflows, enabling near plug-and-play setups, and enhances research precision with a unified data collection system. This powerful platform offers researchers improved insight into neurobehavioral dynamics, accelerating advancements in understanding the brain’s mechanisms. (Link)
TikkunLev Therapeutics, a biotech firm specializing in precision therapies for heart failure, has launched with a lead program, TLT-101, targeting non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and has secured seed financing. Founded on Dr. Robin Shaw's research on the architectural protein cBIN1, the company aims to reverse heart failure by addressing its molecular basis. Extensive preclinical studies demonstrate TLT-101’s ability to restore heart function with a single dose. TikkunLev’s collaboration with the University of Utah’s CVRTI supports development, with plans to file for IND in 2025. The company also established a Scientific Advisory Board featuring experts in cardiology. (Link)
Oracle Corporation has introduced its next-generation electronic health record (EHR) system at the Oracle Health Summit. This new EHR, built on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, integrates AI to automate clinical workflows, deliver insights at the point of care, and simplify administrative tasks. The system aims to transform EHRs from administrative burdens into clinical assets, enhancing care delivery and operational efficiency. Oracle plans to release this advanced EHR platform in 2025. (Link)
Pieces Technologies has received a $2 million Small Business Innovation Research contract from the National Cancer Institute. The funding will support the deployment of a new conversational AI agent, PiecesChat, at MetroHealth in Cleveland. This AI tool will interact with cancer patients in real-time, providing information and gathering data on social determinants of health. The project aims to improve patient care and address disparities in cancer treatment. (Link)
Ferrum Health raised $16 million in a Series A round led by Foundry, bringing total funding to $31 million. Ferrum’s platform enables secure, vendor-neutral AI deployment in healthcare systems, improving early diagnosis and operational efficiency. With AI solutions covering oncology, neurology, cardiovascular, and more, Ferrum’s algorithms allow data validation without breaching privacy. Notably, early adopters saw a 77% increase in early lung cancer detection and a 98% reduction in AI implementation timelines. Now operational across over 250 sites, Ferrum Health is set to accelerate product development and partnerships to modernize healthcare AI adoption. (Link)
Praia Health, a patient experience platform, has received investment from Labcorp Venture Fund and is teaming up with Labcorp to enhance patient access to lab services within health systems. The partnership aims to simplify lab scheduling and location services for patients via Praia’s platform, initially launching at Providence’s Puget Sound location. This collaboration marks an important step in making lab services more accessible and convenient, with expansion plans for other health systems. Praia Health, incubated at Providence, previously secured $20 million in Series A funding from Frist Cressey Ventures and other investors. (Link)