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THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2018 | IN THIS ISSUE
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IDx, a University of Iowa spinout company based in Coralville, has received FDA approval to market IDX-DR, the
first medical device to use artificial intelligence to detect greater than a mild level of the eye disease diabetic retinopathy in adults who have diabetes.
"The FDA's authorization to market IDx-DR is a historic moment that has the potential to launch a transformation in the way U.S. healthcare is delivered," said Dr. Michael Abrà moff, founder and president of IDx. "Autonomous AI systems have massive potential to improve healthcare productivity, lower healthcare costs, and improve accessibility and quality."
Dr. Abramoff said IDX-DR's approval comes at a time when the healthcare system is struggling to care for the growing population of people with diabetes, adding IDX-DR provides a roadmap for safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence in medicine.
Because of its potential, IDx-DR received expedited review by the FDA.
"Early detection of retinopathy is an important part of managing care for the millions of people with diabetes, yet many patients with diabetes are not adequately screened for diabetic retinopathy since about 50 percent of them do not see their eye doctor on a yearly basis," said Dr. Malvina Eydelman, director of the Division of Ophthalmic, and Ear, Nose and Throat Devices at the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, in a press release. She noted that the exam can be performed in minutes in a primary care doctor's office, and produces a diagnostic interpretation and report that includes care instructions.
IDx recently announced a move to larger quarters in the Oakdale Research Park in Coralville and plans to expand staff as it commercializes IDx-DR. For more on IDx's plans and its long march to commercialize IDx, click
here to read a recent CBJ feature on the company.
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Beginning May 1, Nicotac
will ship exclusively to convenience stores to help the estimated 22 million adult smokers who say they want to quit smoking each year. Lil' Drug will offer Nicotac
in two nicotine strengths and a complete assortment of flavors.
Nicotac
will be sold in 10-piece packages for a suggested retail price of $4.99, approximately 45 percent lower than the leading national brand currently sold in convenience stores.
In a press release, LDSP said convenience stores are the logical retail channel for Lil' Drug to launch Nicotac.
Although convenience stores sell more cigarettes than any other retail channel, less than 3 percent sell Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) products to help smokers quit. Lil' Drug aims to make NRT products like Nicotac
more widely available to cconvenience store shoppers by marketing the brand to over 150,000 such stores in the United States.
"When we surveyed the distribution of nicotine gum sales in the category, it was clear the convenience store channel had tremendous room for growth," said Doug Marquardt, director of marketing at Lil' Drug, in a press release. "Since the majority of smokers frequently shop convenience stores, it is a great opportunity for Nicotac
brand nicotine gum to help those who want to quit smoking."
The introduction of Nicotac
to convenience stores follows the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's "Every Try Counts" ad campaign launched in January 2018 to encourage cigarette smokers to quit smoking.
The campaign features ads displayed in and around convenience stores where smokers face a number of triggers that encourage the purchase of tobacco products.
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The University of Iowa today enacted a five-month moratorium on campus projects to defer cash spending following the recent announcement of a late-in-year state funding cut of $5.49 million.
"Unfortunately, as this trend of generational disinvestment continues, the university's options are becoming increasingly limited," said a press release from UI President Bruce Harreld's office. "The moratorium will suspend all campus physical care and improvement projects until Sept. 12, 2018.
After that date, the statement said, the UI will evaluate levels of state support to determine if the moratorium must continue.
While the five-month moratorium will defer an estimated $5.5 million in general education fund cash flow, it does not address the budget shortfall created in fiscal year 2019, the UI said. Additional cuts will be made to centers and institutes at the UI to proactively address the ongoing reduction in state funding.
"The project moratorium could have numerous consequences," the statement cautioned. "The condition of facilities may suffer, and repairs may become more expensive in the future. Savings in FY18 may translate to higher subsequent costs because of changes in the construction market during the moratorium period. In addition to the moratorium, the reductions to centers and institutes will impact citizens across Iowa's 99 counties. None of these outcomes are desirable, but current circumstances have forced the UI to make these difficult decisions."
The UI said some exceptions will be made to the moratorium, including emergency projects, projects addressing patient safety, public safety or building code, and projects that have been bid and awarded or already are under construction.
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ICR Iowa and the Employee Resources Group Consortium (ERGC) have announced a new partnership to support attraction and retention of diverse professionals.
"As we collected data on the workforce needs of regional employers, it became clear that the attraction and retention of diverse professionals would be an important component of our strategy," ICR Iowa CEO Jennifer Daly said in a press release.
"The ERGC is a natural partner in this initiative and we are excited to work with their team to build on the great programs they have already developed."
Established in 2011, the ERGC has played an instrumental role in the support of employment related diversity initiatives through collaborative partnerships, professional development and networking opportunities. The all-volunteer coalition, made up of representatives from regional employers, offers education programs and an annual diversity forum to members and companies located throughout the Corridor. This year, the Diversity Forum will be a part of The Gazette's Iowa Ideas conference Sept. 20-21 in Downtown Cedar Rapids.
The ERGC's work will be structured under ICR IOWA's new Inclusive ICR initiative, a coalition tasked with developing and implementing strategies to attract and retain a more diverse workforce in the region. The ERGC's leadership team will become the new leadership team for Inclusive ICR.
"I'm excited for the opportunity to create synergies among two like-minded organizations in the Corridor," said Matthew Russell, co-chair for the ERGC and Human Resource Manager at MediRevv. "Together, we will achieve a best-in-class approach to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce in our region and simultaneously elevate diversity and inclusion across the region."
The group will work closely with ICR IOWA's Talent Intelligence Council to confirm and measure strategies and metrics for the initiative.
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Gail Naughton receives a Robert Chadima Visionary Award, crafted at the Iowa Ceramics Center and Glass Studio in New Bohemia
PHOTO DAVE DEWITTE
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National Czech & Slovak Museum CEO Gail Naughton and artist Jane Gilmor were honored Wednesday at the second annual Robert Chadima Visionary Awards by the Czech Village - New Bohemia Main Street District.
Ms. Naughton was praised for many efforts, including restoring the museum to a flood-safe location after the flood of 2008, securing streetscape improvements and helping bring the New Bohemia and Czech Village areas together into one district.
Ms. Gilmor played a leading role in encouraging arts initiatives in the district, both as an artist and as a professor at Mount Mercy University, where she remains professor emerita.
The awards are named for Bob Chadima, who fostered a creative community in New Bohemia in the 1980s by converting most of the former J.G. Cherry Co. factory into studios for artists like Ms. Gilmor and work space for startups like Eco Lips. Lijun Chadima, his daughter-in-law, and son David Chadima now oversee the building.
As the district evolves, David Chadima said his father's approach would be to keep it local, with original homegrown businesses and authentic concepts that reflect the community's roots and embrace creativity through the arts or entrepreneurial endeavors.
District Executive Director Jennifer Pruden said the district's growth resulted from a true collaboration of visionaries, past and present, and the city government. Historian Mark Stoffer Hunter wove a history of the Czech Village and New Bo area which began as an early Czech business district. The area was sent into decline when the Cedar River bridge was built and the 16th Avenue SW area of Czech Village became the main retail area. Relegated to a declining industrial area, the area was even considered for razing to make way for urban renewal in the early 1980s.
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 Short-Term Event Planner
April 12
Women of Influence, by Corridor Business Journal, 5-8 p.m., Hotel Kirkwood, 7725 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids. This annual awards event honors 10 women who have made a difference in the Corridor and are seen as role models in their fields and communities. The evening will begin with a networking reception, followed by dinner and the awards ceremony. Tickets: $55 until April 5, $70 after; $550 for a table of 10, $700 after. To register, visit corridorbusiness.com/events or contact [email protected].
April 16
Spring Joint Roundtable, by Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Big Grove Brewery, 1225 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City. Get updates from the chamber and hear from speaker Jennifer Daly, president and CEO of ICR Iowa as she introduces the new name and brand of the region's joint venture. Registration: $15. For more information, visit bit.ly/2pIAD8U.
April 18
1 Million Cups, by by 1 Million Cups, 9-10 a.m., Geonetric, 415 12th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Join for community connections, startup pitches and free coffee. Free. For more information, visit facebook.com/1MCICR.
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Headlines from CBS2/FOX 28
These news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28
La Porte City continues to search for missing Jake Wilson. The 16-year old has autism and disappeared Saturday night. Since then, the town of just over 2,500 has rallied to find him. More than 800 volunteers searched over the weekend, and even during the week, close to 400 people from all over Eastern Iowa came to help.
"We are very close-knit. Although everybody doesn't know everybody, they are always concerned about everybody," La Porte City Mayor David Neil said, "That's just the Iowa way." Authorities announced today they would not need any more volunteers as they are focusing on a law enforcement-driven search with several agencies from across the state. That doesn't mean, however, that residents of La Porte City are going to stop helping.
Brandy Shirk owns the Pizza Palace on Main Street. One of the most popular restaurants in the area, she knows many La Porte City natives. Ms. Shirk delivered close to 80 pizzas to volunteers through the week because, she said, this place is home and so much more.
"It's family, when people come in here they are my family," Ms. Shirk said. "It's just neat to see people come from all over to find this little guy."
Authorities will use the night to investigate further, focusing on video and audio recordings from business across the area. One of the agencies involved is the FBI.
T
hese news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28
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CBS2 Chief Meteorologist Terry Swails' Weather First Forecast
Today will be the calm before the storm... and big changes in the weather. A strong storm will move into the Midwest tonight and lead to showers, thunderstorms, a cool down and eventually some snow.
There will be plenty of sunshine today and temperatures will warm into the 60s across Eastern Iowa. South of Highway 30 temperatures will warm into the upper 60s and some spots could even touch 70 for the first time this year. Clouds will build tonight and a few showers will develop as this storm moves closer to the area. A few light scattered showers will be possible after midnight and into Friday morning.
There will be a break around midday from the rain and temperatures will warm up. There will be a big spread in temperatures though across Eastern Iowa, all dependent on where a warm front sets up on Friday.
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