“Shark Tank” Research Event Hosted by UA College of Medicine February 13

University of Arizona researchers will go head-to-head for a $10,000 prize on Wednesday, February 13, in a “Shark Tank”-style competition hosted by the UA College of Medicine – Tucson.

Innovative ideas will be pitched to a panel of “sharks,” a cast of UA celebrity judges who include UA President Robert Robbins MD; the competition will be emceed by UA Provost Jeffrey Goldberg PhD. The event is part of Research Day, a first-of-its-kind, daylong event coordinated by the UA College of Medicine – Tucson.

Research Day will take place from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Forum (ground floor) of the UA’s Health Sciences Innovation Building (HSIB), 1670 E. Drachman St. A full schedule of the day’s activities is available below.

“Research Day will connect basic scientists and clinicians across disciplines — and also spur a bit of friendly competition,” says Irving Kron MD, interim dean of the UA College of Medicine – Tucson and host of the event. “By the end of the day, more than 125 researchers will have shared their unique projects and brought exposure to the work they are doing in their labs.”

In addition to the “Shark Tank” competition, attendees will listen to three TED Talk-style keynotes that explore the frontiers of integrative medicine, brain science and machine learning. Data blitzes, brief two-minute snapshots of a researcher’s problem, tools and goals, also will be presented throughout the day.

Research Day will close with a select group of UA College of Medicine – Tucson physicians and researchers demonstrating their medical expertise and innovations. Demos include ultrasound imaging technology to improve patient care, wearable motion-detecting technology to monitor patient health and safety and 3D-printed scaffolds — plastic bone-shaped frames — to help regrow long bones.

Schedule of the Day (subject to change)

7 a.m. | Early Bird Data Blitz Session

8 a.m. | Breakfast

8:50 a.m. | Opening Remarks

9 a.m. | TED Talk-style Keynote by Esther M. Sternberg MD
Measuring Health, Wellbeing and Performance Non-invasively: From Molecules to the Environment

9:30 a.m. | Data Blitzes 1 & 2 Begin (concurrent sessions)

11:15 a.m. | TED Talk-style Keynote by Roberta Diaz Brinton PhD
Innovations in Brain Science of the Future for Those Who Need a Cure Today

11:40 a.m.| Lunch

1 p.m. | Data Blitzes 3, 4, & 5 Begin (concurrent sessions)

2:25 p.m. | TED Talk-style Keynote by Nirav C. Merchant PhD
Working Alongside Thinking Machines

3:05 p.m. | “Shark Tank” Competition

4:30 p.m. | Research Demonstrations and Networking Session