Healthcare

U-M team wins national prize for research crowd funding software

By Newsroom

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June 12, 2013

If this concept goes far enough, a prize-winning platform developed at U-M could be the Kickstarter for the medical community. Excerpt: "Crowd funding is all the rage these days, with everyone from charities to start-up companies offering ways for masses of people to kick in small amounts of money that together can make big things happen. But could that concept work for medical research? A University of Michigan Health System team wants to find out – and they have just won a national prize for their prototype of a web-based platform to do it." More here.

Latest in Healthcare

Michigrow develops new LED grow-light technology

By Jon Zemke

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Economic Development

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June 12, 2013

An Ann Arbor-based start-up believes it has the developed the next generation of technology for grow lights. Grow lights are large lights that are used for a number of purposes, ranging from providing artificial light for growing organic vegetables year round to medical marijuana. Those lights have traditionally used incandescent lights. Michigrow's technology utilizes LED lights, which consume far less energy than incandescent bulbs and run much cooler. The use of LED lights and Michigrow's technology allows for not only more energy-efficient operations but helps accelerate the grow cycle of the plants it provides light for by altering its night-and-day biorhythm. "Think of it as a factory that needs to be shut off 12 hours a day," says Jim Beyer, president of Michigrow. "If you can make the factory run 24 hours a day it is much more efficient." Beyer works as a software engineer for his day job but has already begun selling some of the prototypes of his patent-pending technology. He acknowledges that selling his technology to medical marijuana growers would allow for most direct path for rapid start-up. However, he adds that Michigrow's has a number of different potential revenue stream, especially for people in traditional agriculture. "It would allow people to do more of their own food growing in a more economical way," Beyer says. Source: Jim Beyer, president of Michigrow Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

$3.6M historic renovation paves way for new EMU program

By Natalie Burg

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Arts and Culture

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June 12, 2013

At Eastern Michigan University, an exciting blend of history and innovation are about to make waves on campus. A brand new Physician Assistant (PA) Program is now in development, and it will make its home in the historic Rackham Hall, which will receive a $3.6 million renovation. "Rackham Hall is the perfect setting for this program," says Jay Peterson, program director for the new PA program. "It's a historic building with high visibility in the center of campus. We have space to provide students with a great learning environment." Built in 1939 with art deco design elements, Rackham Hall has its roots in healthcare, having housed the EMU Children’s Institute and several other programs. A photo still inside the building documents Eleanor Roosevelt's visit to the facility, which was the first of its kind when first built. To honor Rackham Hall's historic significance, EMU will be renovating its interior to be both meet the program’s modern needs and remain historically accurate. "The building is so cool," Peterson says. "[Horace] Rackham is the guy who drew up the papers to incorporate Ford. This was a really significant building," Work on Rackham Hall is scheduled to begin in the fall and be completed by early next year in time for the new PR Program to begin in May 2014. The program will welcome 20 students in its first year with plans to grow to 30 in 2013 and level out at 40 the following year. The program will operate as a partnership with St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, which will create a joint simulation center, a human anatomy cadaver laboratory and clinical rotations experiences for its students. According to Peterson, keeping the PA students locally will hopefully result in keeping more graduates local to fill the growing need for PAs in the area, particularly in primary care. Source: Jay Peterson, Eastern Michigan University Writer: Natalie Burg

U-M doctors “print out” life-saving airway tube

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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June 5, 2013

Talk about being quick on your feet. Who would've thought a 3-D printer and some plastic could help to save a life? Excerpt: "In a medical first, doctors at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor used plastic particles and a 3-D laser printer to create an airway splint to save the life of a baby boy who used to stop breathing nearly every day. It's the latest advance from the booming field of regenerative medicine, making body parts in the lab." More here.

SVS Vision celebrates grand opening in Westgate

By Natalie Burg

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Development News

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May 22, 2013

Like Goldilocks' search of the best porridge, chair and bed, Cathy Walker, VP of marketing and advertising for SVS Vision, says the company's new branch in Ann Arbor's Westgate Shopping Center offers customers the benefits of being not too big, not too small, but just right. "We can offer more than what some of the smaller places can because of our size," she says of the Mt. Clemens-based SVS Vision, "but we're not huge. We have a much more personal touch than what some of the big places have." The 2,000 square-foot Westgate SVS Vision first opened in January, but celebrated its grand opening last weekend as the company's 57th branch. It the Ann Arbor area's second, joining an Ypsilanti location. "We knew we didn't have enough locations in Washtenaw County, and we knew Ann Arbor was a place we wanted to be," says Walker. "The location in Westgate opened up and it made a lot of sense to us." SVS Vision began nearly 40 years ago as a vision center servicing the auto industry. Walker says the company began to expand its brand in 2008 by opening retail stores for the general public. The company is now in a growth mode, with locations throughout Michigan and seven other states. Walker expects at least one more SVS Vision location to eventually open in the Ann Arbor area. Source: Cathy Walker, SVS Vision Writer: Natalie Burg

U-M Health System touted for leading-edge green practices

By Newsroom

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Healthy Communities

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May 22, 2013

For seven years running, U-M Health System has ranked among the top hospitals in the country for healthy green infrastructure, garnering an Environmental Leadership Circle Award from Practice Greenhealth. Some reasons why: "In 2012, 3.5 million pounds of trash were diverted from the landfill through UMHHC’s recycling efforts. This resulted in an overall recycle rate of 28 percent for 2012... UMHHC requires all new buildings, additions and construction projects with a budget of $10 million or more to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver level. LEED is one of most widely accepted international rating systems for measuring the environmental impact of new construction." More here.

Nutritional Healing Center doubles footprint, adds 5 new staff

By Natalie Burg

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Development News

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May 1, 2013

Growth has been a part of The Nutritional Healing Center of Ann Arbor since it opened in 2000. Now on its fourth expansion, the alternative health business was able to retain its N. Liberty location by growing into the suite next door. "We basically busted down the wall in two places and made it a giant circle," says Jessica Bonesteel, office manager for The Nutritional Healing Center. The expansion doubled the business' space to 5,000 square feet, allowing for new treatment rooms and the addition of massage therapy to the office's services. The company signed the lease for the new space last summer and began construction in September. The space was fully functional in January, and The Nutritional Healing Center celebrated with an open house last week. Bonesteel says their growth can be attributed to the company's hands-on approach to each client's needs. "We don't make general recommendations across the board," she says. "Everybody has their own gradient for what they can take on. So it's very tailored to that person's success." The Nutritional Healing Center's staff has expanded as well. Since October, five new employees have been hired, bringing the total number of staff to 14. Source: Jessica Bonesteel, Nutritional Healing Center of Ann Arbor Writer: Natalie Burg

Michigan Vein Care Specialists opens Ann Arbor clinic

By Natalie Burg

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Development News

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May 1, 2013

It may come as a surprise to many that 40 to 60 percent of people have some sort of vein disease. Even those that may be aware of their issues may not realize that non-invasive procedures are available to treat them. That is one of the reasons that after working with Chelsea Surgical Associates for several years, Dr. Suzanne Jones decided to focus her energies on vein issues, opening Michigan Vein Care Specialists on W. Eisenhower Pkwy. "A lot of people are surprised to find out that their vein problems can be corrected so quickly," says Jones. "Some people go back to work the same day." Michigan Vein Care Specialists offers laser and radiofrequency treatment in their new, 2,200 square-foot office. The business began seeing patients in January and will celebrate its grand opening on May 20. "I love the location," says Jones of the W. Eisenhower Pkwy office. "It's very easy for patients to get to. I see a lot of patients from this side of town." Including Jones, the new office employs a staff of five. As the business continues to grow, Jones hopes to bring in another practitioner and perhaps expand into a second Ann Arbor-area location. Michigan Vein Specialists will host a free screening event for vein issues on May 16. Source: Dr. Suzanne Jones, Michigan Vein Care Specialists Writer: Natalie Burg

Centri Cycle goes from engineering project to start-up

By Newsroom

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Entrepreneurship

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April 3, 2013

What started as a freshman-level engineering project meant to help make the world a better place has become a socially entrepreneurial start-up that aims to do just that. Centri Cycle is creating a cost-effective and easy-to-use centrifuge that can be used to perform simple medical tests in the Third World. The idea is to make this self-powered technology available in places like India to help combat preventable suffering and death from disease. "We took the idea and ran with it," says Carolyn Yarina, CEO of Centri Cycle. Yarina and her co-founder (both University of Michigan students) have gotten the technology to the prototype phase where it is being tested at the University of Michigan Hospital. The TechArb-based start-up hopes to bring its technology to market in the U.S. next year and to India by fall of 2014. "It should be ready for market in March or April," Yarina says. Source: Carolyn Yarina, CEO of Centri Cycle Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Chelsea native opens rare chiropractic specialty practice in hometown

By Natalie Burg

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Development News

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March 20, 2013

Since the opening of Chelsea Chiropractic & Functional Neurology this month, Chelsea has become home to one of just three chiropractors in the state specializing in neurology. The 1,100 square foot office on W. Middle St. will celebrate its grand opening on March 28. Keiser practiced chiropractics in Nashville and southern Florida before moving back to his hometown to open his business with his fiance. While Keiser sees patients for traditional chiropractic services, he says his neurological practice can help those who might have given up hope of dealing with side effects from head injuries, vertigo, strokes and more when symptoms persist despite receiving a clean bill of health from neurologists. "We understand that just because there is nothing physically broken in the brain, that doesn't mean there's nothing wrong," he says. "We go in and find those areas that aren't functioning so well in the brain and we provide therapies and rehab to allow them to come back to health." Chelsea Chiropractic employs Keiser, his fiancé and one additional employee. Keiser is one of three chiropractors in his field in Michigan and fewer than 500 board certified functional neurologists in the world. Source: Dr. Nathan Keiser, Chelsea Chiropractic & Functional Neurology Writer: Natalie Burg