The University of Nebraska is launching a new biomedical technology institute — jointly led by UNMC and the University of Nebraska at Omaha — that will position NU as a leader in key areas of research and development, expanding opportunities for faculty, staff and students to partner with the private sector, commercialize their discoveries and help grow the state’s workforce and economy.
The Nebraska Advanced Biomedical Technology Innovation and Discovery Institute was approved by the Board of Regents in November. UNMC and UNO already have collaborative programs in place in critical areas like bioinformatics, robotics, biomechanics, simulation and visualization and other areas, and through the new institute will expand partnerships with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska at Kearney and other public and private institutions.
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“Biomedical technology represents a major opportunity for us to fill a rapidly growing job market, attract talented scientists, students and entrepreneurs to our state, and more effectively meet the health needs of Nebraskans,” said UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D.
“The new biomedical institute will provide us with an advantage to compete for and develop an emerging, highly skilled workforce that also will assist the state in retaining Nebraska’s best and brightest. We’re incredibly excited about the potential this initiative has to advance Nebraska’s economic competitiveness and improve health care for people in our state and around the world.”
UNO Chancellor John Christensen said, “Cutting-edge biomedical research is already taking place at UNO, UNMC and across the university. Nebraska is positioned to become a national model in addressing some of the most significant challenges facing health care today — like providing higher-quality care for lower cost, preventing disease, ensuring national security and delivering health services to critical populations, including rural residents, veterans and underserved socio-economic groups as well as those living in major metropolitan areas.”
The Nebraska Advanced Biomedical Technology Innovation and Discovery Institute is among the components of the university’s 2015-17 biennial budget request, to be considered by policymakers during the legislative session that began this week. NU’s budget request includes a $20 million economic competitiveness package that seeks to advance university initiatives related to workforce development, talent recruitment, public-private partnerships, and research and innovation.
About $2 million of the package would support the launch of the biomedical institute, including recruitment of faculty, general operations and equipment, and other expenses. Other sources of funding, including private philanthropy, are being explored to supplement the state support.
Exciting and encouraging to all