Fischell Institute Foundry Participate in Innovation @ UMB: Inventor Appreciation Open House

Fischell Institute Foundry members Kevin Aroom and Ryan Smith participated in the UM Ventures Innovation @ UMB: Inventor Appreciation Open House event on December 13, 2023.

The pair and Jeffrey Hirsch, Assistant Professor of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, served as Prototyping Development Experts, discussing the Baltimore Prototyping Lab's capabilities, past and present projects, and their expertise with attendees.

"We were able to show the various types of 3D printers used in the innovation lab and the pros and cons of each particular printer," said Aroom.

The Innovation @ UMB event series is a resource for entrepreneurs and researchers interested in learning more about progressing real-world innovations.

An event session is held every month, with each session focusing on a specific topic. Previous topics have included commercialization pathways, SBIR funding, and I-Corps. Adam Kronk, New Ventures Principal at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, produces the event.

"The prototyping lab at UMB is a dynamic and innovative workspace where ideas come to life through the iterative process of creating and refining prototypes," said Kronk. "This specialized facility serves as a playground for inventors, engineers, clinicians, and designers, providing them with the tools and resources needed to transform conceptual visions into tangible realities."

Smith, also a UM Ventures Medical Device Research Engineer, worked closely with Kronk to host the event.

"This was the ideal audience—not only was it great to show our appreciation to those we have worked with, but getting the word out about the space will help drive up disclosures, which could lead to new devices," said Smith.

After the event's success, Kronk noted that it was great to host colleagues from around the institution and show them what the lab can do.

"UM Ventures is continuously looking forward to working with innovative faculty and staff and directly applying their novel ideas to important patient needs," he said.

Aroom and Smith look forward to participating in future UM Ventures events and open houses and continuing to build collaborative relationships.

Published January 4, 2024