The work of the ABIA partnership is based on a simple idea: the patient is at the center of everything we do. The challenges facing healthcare today are numerous and complex, such as, increased regulation, skyrocketing costs and administrative red tape just to name a few. There are great ideas and solutions that become causalities of the system. As a result, the ultimate goal of providing the highest-quality patient care is all too often compromised. ABIA was created through an unprecedented partnership aimed at doing things differently, and accelerating the translation of ideas to products and community health improvement initiatives. It is a place where innovation and entrepreneurialism thrive.

Nationally Recognized Innovation and Entrepreneurship Process
ABIA is a recognized innovation leader and its Innovative Solutions for Invention Xceleration (ISIX) method, in collaboration with The University of Akron Research Foundation, has been heralded by the U.S. Commerce Department, National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation as one of the nation’s best approaches to technology commercialization and entrepreneurship. The method works by bringing together scientists, physicians, engineers, researchers and entrepreneurs in the biomedical devices and materials space to help start-up companies and existing companies enhance business competitiveness, quality, cost-effectiveness, productivity and expand offerings to new markets.

Unique BioSkills Lab
The hands-on BioSkills Lab offers educators, clinicians and industry the opportunity to refine skills and apply new techniques with fresh frozen cadaveric materials. The BioSkills Lab can be utilized by numerous medical and engineering specialties to work on more streamlined and effective procedures, as well as allowing for the efficient training of industry sales and design teams.

Clinical Development & Regulatory Services
ABIA offers regulatory strategy development assistance for medical devices, drugs or combination products. ABIA develops clinical trials protocols and helps place clinical trials of new therapies from major pharmaceutical and device companies with our partner hospitals.

Rapid Prototype Design & Development
ABIA accelerates technology development to drive ideas from concept to commercialization and clinical use. Services offered include, but are not limited to, biomedical engineering expertise, rapid prototype development, proof of concept, comprehensive market and intellectual property analysis, in vivo studies, and technology commercialization support.

Value-driven Approach to Medical Device Development
Value-driven Engineering is a new national approach to medical device development that embraces simplicity. This focus on developing patient-centered, innovative medical devices seek to enhance clinical function and reduce complexity for the user, as well as improve cost efficiency for the healthcare system. At a time when payers and providers are debating what will and should be paid for, Value-driven Engineering provides innovators and companies with an exceptional competitive edge in the global market. ABIA’s Usability Lab helps companies assess the clinical utility and simplicity of their devices.

Open Innovation Partnerships for Life Science and Materials Products
The Akron Functional Materials Center, a joint effort between ABIA and The University of Akron, works with global companies and investigators in biomaterials and polymers through a collection of open source, high-tech facilities and tools to assist with the design, development and fabrication for human health products. Its technical areas include nanomaterials, complex fluids, biomaterials, adhesion, membranes and automation.

Groundbreaking Simulation Center & Training
The 30,000-square foot ABIA facility offers pioneering technologies and procedures to improve the function of health provider teams and early responders in a controlled environment. The new facility is a combination of research, product development and training space unique to Ohio. On site, the offerings range from a mock hospital with fully configurable replica bays and command stations to a distinct cadaveric lab and standardized patient rooms. With the only mobile training unit in Northeast Ohio, ABIA is able to take its high-quality, immersive healthcare training to various locations.