ImpacTech

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guests: Todd Hargroder and Troy Tesmer, co-founders of Soul Mobility, Inc.

IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter 
Transcript | PDF

Timestamps:
0:58 The IMPACT Award
2:31 How they got into the mobility space
9:43 Involvement in the field
13:02 Building a substantial product
17:50 Challenges during development
24:05 The future of power-assist
34:38 Never give up

Host : Dr. Michelle Zorrilla, Associate Director of Technology Translation, and Dr. Julie Faieta, Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh, Rehabilitation Science Researcher and Licensed Clinical Occupational Therapist
Guests: RESNA Developers' Showcase Teams (see below for more information)

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction 
02:13 Stephanie - VehiCLE  
03:48 Wayne - Wall Storage  
05:51 Leslie - Hummingbird  
09:46 Karen - Work Access  
13:04 Finn - Auli Tech  
16:20 Nadine - Kinemo  
21:01 Roger - MyAccessibleHome  
25:07 Todd - PowerFlex  

IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram
1. VehiCLE by the Cleveland VA Technology Transfer Program - Stephanie Bailey | Website
2. Fully Accessible Wall Storage by Novabiz - Wayne Crowley | Website
3. The Hummingbird by the Prism Lab at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto - Leslie Mumford | Website
4. Work ACCESS by the Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation at Georgia Tech - Karen Milchus
5. Cato by Auli Tech - Finn Biggs | YouTube, Email, 
6. Kinemo by Georgia Tech - Nordine Sebkhi | Website, LinkedIn
7. myAcessibleHome App by R2D2 Center at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee - Roger Smith | Website
8. PowerFlex by Soul Mobility - Todd Hargroder | Website

Transcript | PDF

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guest: Julie Gulick, President and CEO of Bally Design

Julie Gulick - Bally Design | LinkedIn,  Website
IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram

Transcript | PDF

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guest: Dr. Anjali Forber-Pratt, Director of the National Institute of Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), an elite wheelchair racer, a Paralympic ambassador, public speaker, disability advocate, and former assistant professor at Vanderbilt University.

Dr. Anjali Forber-Pratt | LinkedIn, ACL.gov News,  Website
IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter 

Transcript | PDF

Info on pursuing NIDILRR funding
- View NIDILRR funding opportunities at Grants.gov
- View NIDILRR Funding Opportunities on ACL.gov   Tip: When the page is displayed in your browser, choose the "NIDILRR" category from the drop-down menu at the top of the page.

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guest: Dr. Anjali Forber-Pratt, Director of the National Institute of Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), an elite wheelchair racer, a Paralympic ambassador, public speaker, disability advocate, and former assistant professor at Vanderbilt University.

Dr. Anjali Forber-Pratt | LinkedIn, ACL.gov News,  Website
IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter 

Transcript | PDF

Key Mentions
- NIDILRR main webpage
- NARIC
- About NIDILRR video

Adaptive sport/exercise RRTC
- How to find adaptive sport/recreation: https://www.naric.com/?q=en/FAQ/where-can-i-find-accessible-recreational-activities
- NIDILRR funded: https://www.rectech.org/
- The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability (NCPAD)

AT3 and NARIC links on Assistive Tech
- https://acl.gov/programs/assistive-technology/assistive-technology
- AT3 Center State Assistive Technology Program Directory
- https://www.naric.com/?q=en/content/assistive-technology-0
- NIDILRR’s Small Business Innovation Research program
- Knowledge Translation Centers Program

Info on pursuing NIDILRR funding
- View NIDILRR funding opportunities at Grants.gov
- View NIDILRR Funding Opportunities on ACL.gov   Tip: When the page is displayed in your browser, choose the "NIDILRR" category from the drop-down menu at the top of the page.

Hosts: Dr. Michelle Zorrilla, Associate Director of Technology Translation and Mrs. Nancy Augustine, Project Manager, at the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh,
Guests: Madeline Lee and Meghan Mulloy, graduate student entrepreneurs from the University of Pittsburgh’s Masters of Rehabilitation Technology program

Meghan Mulloy | LinkedIn
Toothbrush Buddy |  Website
RESNA Student Design Challenge 2022 | Website
IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter 

Full Transcript | PDF

Key Mentions  
SHRS Master of Rehabilitation Science https://www.shrs.pitt.edu/mrt
RESNA.org www.RESNA.org

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guests: Tracey McGillivray, Entrepreneur/Co-founder & CEO at Axtion Independence Mobility Inc.; Liam Maaskant, Mechanical Engineer; Co-Founder & CPO, Axtion Independence Mobility Inc.

Tracey McGillivray | LinkedIn
Liam Maaskant | LinkedIn | Email
Action Independence Mobility Inc. |  Twitter
IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter 

Full Transcript | PDF

Key Mentions
www.Rise4Access.org
www.RESNA.org

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guests: Dr. Portia Singh, Director of Research at Cariloop, the world's first human-powered caregiver support platform that combines professional health care coaching services, and cloud-based tools that help families plan and manage every aspect of their caregiving journey; Shireen Abdullah, CEO of  Yumlish, an AI-powered digital health platform that provides culturally relevant nutrition therapy for minorities with diabetes and addresses socio-economic barriers to dietary adherence. 

Dr. Portia Singh | LinkedIn, Cariloop
Shireen Abdullah | Yumlish Website, LinkedIn
IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter 

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guests: Dr. Portia Singh, Director of Research at Cariloop, the world's first human-powered caregiver support platform that combines professional health care coaching services, and cloud-based tools that help families plan and manage every aspect of their caregiving journey; Shireen Abdullah, CEO of  Yumlish, an AI-powered digital health platform that provides culturally relevant nutrition therapy for minorities with diabetes and addresses socio-economic barriers to dietary adherence. 

Dr. Portia Singh | LinkedIn, Cariloop
Shireen Abdullah | Yumlish Website, LinkedIn
IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter 

Timestamps:
1:22 Dr. Portia Singh background
7:28 Shireen Abdullah background
15:17 What inspired Portia's work?
24:39 What inspired Shireen's work?
29:42 Barriers faced in development and technology transfer

 

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guests: Karin Leire, Vice President of Research and Innovation at Permobil; Dr. Laura Rice, Associate Professor at the University of Illinois, Associate Director of the Center on Health, Aging, and Disability, and Interim Director of Master of Public Health and Master of Health Administration Programs; and Dr. Shantha Sarangapani, Founder & CEO of ICET Inc., a growing contract R&D company aggressively developing new ideas, concepts and technologies in the areas of biomedicine, energy, and environment.

Karin Leire | LinkedIn
Dr. Laura Rice | Lab Website, LinkedIn
Dr. Shantha Sarangapani | ICET Inc Website, LinkedIn 
IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter 

Timestamps:
01:02 What is unique about rehab tech and its path to market? 
02:40 From concept to prototype to market
04:12 Pushing for the greater masses
06:48 Collaborations with Industry
10:24 When to engage other sectors
11:45 Intellectual Property Challenges
14:32 Large company secret sauce

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guests: Karin Leire, Vice President of Research and Innovation at Permobil; Dr. Laura Rice, Associate Professor at the University of Illinois, Associate Director of the Center on Health, Aging, and Disability, and Interim Director of Master of Public Health and Master of Health Administration Programs; and Dr. Shantha Sarangapani, Founder & CEO of ICET Inc., a growing contract R&D company aggressively developing new ideas, concepts and technologies in the areas of biomedicine, energy, and environment.

Karin Leire | LinkedIn
Dr. Laura Rice | Lab Website, LinkedIn
Dr. Shantha Sarangapani | ICET Inc Website, LinkedIn 
IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter 
 

Timestamps:
1:12 Backstories
9:12 Flexible Employment Program for Women Scientists at ICET, Inc. 
12:22 Barriers Faced by Female Innovators
16:09 Experiences Impacted by Gender 
18:22 Patents and Investments
23:39 Is work-life balance achievable?
33:08 Leading by example
37:11 Monday Motivation

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guests: Dr. Alex Mihailidis, Barbara G Stymies Chair in Rehabilitation Technology, and lead of the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics team at KITE, and Dr. Tilak Dutta, Scientist at the Toronto Rehab Institute. 


AGE-WELL NCE | Website, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube
KITE Research Institute | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube
IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter 

Full Episode Transcript | PDF

Timestamps:
01:30 Knowledge Translation Beyond Products
06:37 Barriers and Facilitators of Implementing Standards
10:19 Challenges of an Aging Population
15:49 Technology Polarities faced by the Aging
18:40 Advice for those going into AT

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guests: Dr. Alex Mihailidis, Barbara G Stymies Chair in Rehabilitation Technology, and lead of the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics team at KITE, and Dr. Tilak Dutta, Scientist at the Toronto Rehab Institute. 


AGE-WELL NCE | Website, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube
KITE Research Institute | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube
IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter 

Full Episode Transcript | PDF

Timestamps: 
01:15 Alex Background & Intro
02:21 Tilak Background & Intro
03:28 KITE Center - What they do and the research teams
05:12 Collaboration, Commercialization and Translation
07:51 The Home Lab and End-Users
14:47 KITE Startups - Braze Mobility
18:15 Research, Funding & Support

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guests: Dr. Pooja Viswanathan, CEO of BRAZE Mobility Inc and  Dr. Rosalie Wang, Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto

FASTER Collective | Website
AGE-WELL NCE | Website, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube
BRAZE Mobility Inc | Website, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter
IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

FASTER Publication |  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33992634/ 
Wang, R. H., Kenyon, L. K., McGilton, K. S., Miller, W. C., Hovanec, N., Boger, J., Viswanathan, P., Robillard, J. M., & Czarnuch, S. M. (2021). The Time Is Now: A FASTER Approach to Generate Research Evidence for Technology-Based Interventions in the Field of Disability and Rehabilitation. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 102(9), 1848–1859. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2021.04.009

AGE-WELL Workshop Position Paper | Smart Wheelchairs in Assessment and Training (SWAT): State of the Field

Full Episode Transcript | PDF

Timestamps: 
01:15 Pooja Background & Intro
01:51 Rosalie Background & Intro
03:13  Barriers to Commercialization in Rehab Tech
08:32 Technology Based Interventions
09:57  Current Approaches for Technology-Based Interventions
16:24 Diving Deeper into the FASTER Framework
23:54 What would success look like?
 

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guests: Pooja Viswanathan, CEO of BRAZE Mobility Inc

BRAZE Mobility Inc | Website, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter
IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

Full Episode Transcript | PDF

Timestamps: 
00:56 Background & Intro
01:58 BRAZE Mobility and the technology
03:29 From Academia to Entrepreneurship
07:25 Funding and IP
16:15 Mentorship is critical
17:40 How each side can work together

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guests: Dr. Dan Zondervan (VP) and Dr. David Reikensmeyer (Clinical Advisor) of FlintRehab

FlintRehab | Website, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter
Products |  FitMi, MusicGlove

IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

Full Episode Transcript | PDF

Timestamps: 
01:18 Clinical Trial Process - Research Perspective
04:14 Clinical Trial Process - Industry Perspective and Communicating the Value of a Product
05:40 FlintRehab’s Consumer Product Mentality
06:31 Including Qualitative Components
07:44 FDA Process and Tips
12:08 Business Models Differ by Product
17:05 Size and Structure of FlintRehab
21:12 Final advice

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guests: Dr. Dan Zondervan (VP) and Dr. David Reikensmeyer (Clinical Advisor) of FlintRehab

FlintRehab | Website, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter
Products |  FitMi, MusicGlove, 

IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

Full Episode Transcript | PDF

Timestamps: 
1:22 FlintRehab's Backstory.
7:56 SBIR Funding Mechanism got them started.
8:39 Their Products.
10:09  What the data is suggesting.
14:53 Why neuro-rehabilitation.
16:37 Straddling the university and small business role.
20:51 Wearing many hats. 

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guest Co-Host: John Inserra, Principle at Mindful Venture Consulting
Guests: Don Morrison, chairman of Deal Flow for BlueTree Allied Angels, and Corinne Vinopol, CEO of the Institute for Disabilities Research and Training Inc.

John Inserra | LinkedIn
Corinne Vinopol | LinkedIn
Don Morrison | LinkedIn

IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

Full Episode Transcript | PDF

Timestamps: 
1:40 Essential pieces for product to succeed.
3:57 Product/Market Fit.
7:28 Importance of intellectual property.
11:45 Identifying a more compelling or promising IP strategy, problem statement or value proposition.
12:16 Customer Discovery & Finances.
13:20 Pitching and the Kinds of Pitches.
17:22 Eye contact and presence.
18:23 People remember stories not numbers. Slides and storytelling.
20:24 Top 2 to 3 things an entrepreneur can do to get to market.
23:57 Get out of your comfort zone.

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guest Co-Host: John Inserra, Principle at Mindful Venture Consulting
Guests: Don Morrison, chairman of Deal Flow for BlueTree Allied Angels, and Corinne Vinopol, CEO of the Institute for Disabilities Research and Training Inc.

John Inserra | LinkedIn
Corinne Vinopol | LinkedIn
Don Morrison | LinkedIn

IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

Full Episode Transcript | PDF

Timestamps: 
01:08 IMPACT Center Training
01:56 Co-host and Guest Intros
04:55 What is in it for the mentor and what do they bring to the table?
08:08 Business experience is not enough
10:39 It is more than knowledge and skill
13:20 How effective communication is important
18:21 Pitching vs Discovery vs Conversation

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guest: Dr. Cathy Bodine, Associate Professor, Director, Center for Inclusive Design and Engineering

UC Denver - CIDE |  Website

IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

Full Episode Transcript | PDF

Timestamps: 

2:38 Advice to those making their technologies open source and how to think about sustainability.
4:40 Analyzing market share and the other critical components of a business plan.
11:01 The Technology Act Programs.
14:47 Innovation Trends in Academia.
17:35 Advice to women and other underrepresented innovators.
22:20 When is it time to move on to the next thing?
25:08 How to get or stay motivated after several rejections?