Here were some of the more interesting stories at MedCity News this week:
    ♦  Cell Targeting in Cleveland is developing technology that can point stem cell therapies to specific areas of the body – an approach that could cut costs by lowering dosages. But CEO Joseph Wagner wants to sell companies (and investors) on the idea that Cell Targeting’s approach can create new products.
    ♦   Cleveland insurance broker and risk manager Oswald Cos. assembled a panel of health reform players, who though they had different points of view stuck with two of the three big themes of health care reform: Covering more people with health insurance and slowing the growth of health care costs. It’s clear that health reform efforts are still too close to call.
With the Rise of AI, What IP Disputes in Healthcare Are Likely to Emerge?
Munck Wilson Mandala Partner Greg Howison shared his perspective on some of the legal ramifications around AI, IP, connected devices and the data they generate, in response to emailed questions.
    ♦   Ohio State University and research powerhouse Battelle have installed a collaboration ambassador to energize research and economic development efforts between the two institutions. The man selected for the position is Blake Thompson, the former director of university partnerships for the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which Battelle manages.
    ♦   Recently proposed legislation in Ohio would use state grant money to fund job training in the biotech industry. House Bill 283, proposed late last week by State Rep. Sandra Williams, would be funneled through the Ohio Department of Development to companies or municipalities, along with job-training centers and educational institutions to prepare workers for biotech jobs.
    ♦  Meanwhile, in leadership news: Michael Fisher is the new CEO at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Brett Himes takes over as CEO of Toledo, Ohio’s Heartland Information Services. And in funding news: Imricor Medical Systems in Burnsville, Minn., the developer of a system for performing cardiac ablations, is hoping to raise more than $2.5 million;  Pittsburgh, Pa.’s Lipella, an early-stage biotech company focusing on bladder-based ailments, is raising $1 million; ThermalTherapeutic Systems, the Pittsburgh company developing a portable device to inject fluids into sections of the body, raised $2.75 million to bring its product to market; and Blue Belt Technologies — yet another Pittsburgh company – which is developing a line of computer-assisted, robotic bone-cutting tools, has raised $2.4 million to prepare a U.S. Food and Drug Administration application for its first product.
Have a great weekend!
