Research + Innovation

SparkPeople celebrates milestones, 10th anniversary

By Newsroom

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July 19, 2011

This has been a big year for SparkPeople, a Cincinnati-based online fitness community founded in 2001 by Chris Downie. The community's 11 millionth member registered in April, and Downie's book, "The Spark," landed on the New York Times bestseller list.Downie calls the success an entrepreneur's dream come true."As an entrepreneur, in your head you always dream of these things happening, and to actually see these things happen is exciting," he says.Long before the rise of Facebook, and only a few years after online forums became mainstream, SparkPeople made community interaction a key part of its design. Downie says his experience creating an auction site (that eventually became part of eBay) helped lay the foundation, but that it was mission, more than technology, that launched SparkPeople to its current status as America's largest online health and wellness community."Our goal was always to build a consumer brand that stood for authentically helping people," he says. "Really, we've just followed that mission and it's grown in some really interesting ways."SparkPeople's initial offerings such as recipe plans and forums where members could encourage each other and share fitness tips has expanded in parallel with the growth of Web 2.0 technology. Members can now create personal homepages that track their statistics, earn points for achieving healthy lifestyle goals and challenge each other to achieve fitness milestones. The site's interface has changed and evolved accordingly. But through it all, Downie says a central concept - setting achievable, progressive goals - has played a key role."One of the biggest things is the way we look at reaching goals," he explains. "We've actually figured out how to make weight loss into a fun and exciting experience." In a world full of fad diets and quick weight-loss schemes, that may sound like a raw sales pitch. But given that SparkPeople doesn't charge for membership, and that Downie says much of the new-member growth comes from personal referrals to the site, it appears to hold merit.Downie says that as SparkPeople moves into its second decade, his team is busy with a number of advances, improvements and new projects. He declined to elaborate beyond noting an upcoming cookbook and fitness DVD, both slated for release later this year. The company is also assembling a New York City-based media team to explore new ventures."Even though we've been doing this for 10 years, in some ways we could be at the very early stages of where this could go," he says.By Matt CunninghamFollow Matt on Twitter @cunningcontent

Latest in Research + Innovation

National NIOSH symposium here July 12-13

By Newsroom

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Cincy In The News

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July 12, 2011

A national safety symposium taking place at the University of Cincinnati this week looks at successful partnership models from around the country, and broadcasts some of its sessions live.Read the full story here.

St. Elizabeth’s growth includes health, wellness institute

By Soapbox

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Development News

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July 12, 2011

St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Edgewood, already recognized for performing more cardiovascular procedures than any other hospital in Cincinnati, plans to expand its services, becoming a health and wellness institute over the course of the next few years. "We're already known for our cardiac services and well recognized by independent health grades," says Sara Giolando, St. Elizabeth's senior vice president and chief strategy officer. "We're already a strong program, but this expansion will give an additional opportunity to expand the services that we already offer, in addition to the clinical research program. This gives patients an option to try the latest devices and drugs monitored by one of the best programs, allowing local access to high-tech advancements." The new expansion will include two phases. Phase one involves the physical expansion of the space to create a heart hospital in one central location. Phase two will add three additional levels to the hospital, making room for a clinical research institute, universal patient rooms, additional patient beds, ICU capacity and additional exam rooms. Because St. Elizabeth is a non-profit organization, $15 million for the first phase of the project will come from hospital earnings, with additional funding coming from a capital campaign."St. Elizabeth's is really unique. We typically fund from retained earnings and employee contributions. I am always blown away to see how many people and employees give back to the hospital in a form of donation," says Giolando, who adds that the hospital has the highest contributing employee system in the region.Giolando says that the expansion is about more than physical growth; it's also a move to make more area residents aware of heart disease and the new resource taking shape in their backyard.By Lisa Ensminger

UC researcher earns NIH grant for miRNA study

By Soapbox

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Education + Learning

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July 12, 2011

A University of Cincinnati neurobiologist may soon help mental health researchers understand depression at a more effective level than ever before, thanks to an innovative research method and a nearly-quarter-million-dollar grant from the National Institutes of Health.James Herman, PhD, received a two-year NIH grant worth $248,159 in its first year to fund research into the role that microRNA (miRNA) - molecular-level controllers that help regulate the brain's chemistry - play in how the brain reacts to stress."We're attempting to develop this as a discovery platform to understand what's going on in the brain," Herman says. He explains that this research, in which scientists analyze how miRNA in mice affect the brain's mood-regulating prefrontal cortex, is very early-stage work in the exploration of the molecular process behind depression. But the ultimate implications of Herman's work could be significant. He explained that miRNA in mice function the same as miRNA in humans: identify a link between mouse miRNA and a brain dysfunction, and there's good reason to look for a similar relationship in the human brain. Beyond this tantalizing fact, though, scientists don't completely understand how miRNA works, or even how many types of miRNA exist in the brain.Herman's team is tackling this hurdle with a new analysis technique, called deep sequencing, to analyze miRNA at a high level of detail."The method is really, really powerful," he says. Processing one set of data from a sample, for example, can keep lab computers running nonstop for a weekend. Thanks to a collaboration with informatics researchers at the University of Michigan, Herman's team can spot relationships and patterns in this sea of data, results that could help scientists link certain miRNA function - or dysfunction - to the stress-processing problems underlying depression and mood disorders.These results could eventually give psychiatrists a new weapon against mood disorders. Rather than giving a patient medicine that floods the brain with mood-altering chemicals - a practice that often comes with severe side effects - physicians could one day provide treatment that fixes the way the brain controls its own chemistry. Medicine has a long way to go to reach that point, but the work Herman's team is undertaking at UC could be a major step in the right direction.By Matt Cunningham

Foxfire helps firefighters with smoke vision

By Elizabeth Edwards

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Entrepreneurship

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July 12, 2011

Former Eli Lilly sales manager and volunteer firefighter Zachary Green started MN8 Products, which makes Foxfire high intensity photo luminescent (glow in the dark) coatings and products for firefighters, in 2010. Green, a Marine Corps veteran, worked in the corporate world for 18 years, first for SAP and then later for Eli Lilly. He had been at Lilly for eight years when the economic recession hit. His choice: move to Indianapolis or take a corporate buyout during one of the worst recessions in history. "I'm not the type of guy that's meant to be in a cube," says Green. As a volunteer firefighter, Green saw an opportunity to use the glow technology to coat equipment that firefighters use in the dark. "I had put the coating on my helmet and then used it in a fire," he says. "The other firefighters were amazed at how effective it was and wanted to use it on their helmets. I knew we were on to something." Three of the top risks faced by firefighters are visibility, accountability and disorientation. Foxfire illumination helps firefighters keep track of their tools and each other in a dark, smoky fire. The turning point for Green was the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis, the largest conference and tradeshow for firefighters, which welcomes 34,000 firefighters every year. "We were the busiest booth in the tradeshow," Green says. "We ran out of product samples three times and had to send people back to Cincinnati to get more." That month, the company received over $85,000 in orders, beginning a trend that hasn't stopped. The new challenge is managing a startup that is growing really quickly – and keeping enough cash in hand to turn around orders. Green has self-financed his company and has used a line of credit to manage the time between manufacturing product and getting payments from customers. "My training from the Marine Corps taught me to always plan for the worst case scenario, so I had contingency plans for how to manage large, unexpected orders," Green says. Despite the anxiety that comes with starting a new company in a down economy, Green has no regrets. "I'm having the time of my life."By Elizabeth Edwards

Madisonville gives urban farm project a tentative trial run

By Soapbox

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Development News

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July 12, 2011

Steve Rock spoke to the Madisonville Community Council in mid-June about an update and a request. He and a team of volunteers plan to convert a derelict industrial building on Whetsel Avenue into an urban farm and education center, employing the latest technology to grow fresh meat and produce in the neighborhood. But the response of the more than 50 people in attendance showed that innovation is not just about ideas and experiments; it's also about connecting with people and building community support."I think education is huge in this project," says Rock, an environmental engineer by trade who has taken on the urban farm project in his spare time, partly to see if some of its more unusual ideas will work. He spent part of the meeting - and much of the time afterward - explaining various aspects of the project: a system of vertical integration would grow both hydroponic vegetables and tilapia in the building (a former laundry) using waste from the fish to fertilize the plants. A classroom and community gardens would help area residents learn about agriculture and grow their own food. And a program to train at-risk youth would help staff the facility while improving the employment prospects for its participants. But questions also revolved around the building itself. Madisonville Community Council president Bob Igoe explained that the building, which has been vacant for years, is slated for demolition. "We've got to be confident Steve can make this thing work, or we're going to be stuck with [the building] for another year," Igoe says.Several Madisonville residents asked pointed questions about timelines and the likelihood of the project getting grant funding; Igoe pointed this out as an indication - the project's merits aside - that city residents wanted to see progress in their community."You have a room full of people who have had a handful of promises for decades," he says.At the end of the meeting, the community voted to place a three-month stay on the demolition. This gives Rock time to try to secure grant funding, showing the community the project can raise the $500,000 to $1 million he estimates it will take to launch. Volunteers have launched a website and have drafted handouts to help spread the word about the project, and Rock said he hopes to hear about grant funding prior to the community council's next meeting on the project, planned for September.By Matt Cunningham

Deadline for $90,000 in grants for entrepreneurs: July 15

By Elizabeth Edwards

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Entrepreneurship

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July 12, 2011

Cincinnati Innovates, the region's third annual online innovation competition, is heating up, with more than 120 aspiring entrepreneurs already competing for almost $90,000 in grant awards and a top prize of $25,000. The competition accepts entries online until July 15, 2011, and is open to anyone in Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana. "We are seeing some really interesting concepts and ideas this year," says James Zimmerman, partner at Taft Stettinius & Hollister, a sponsor of the event. Entries include products, web and mobile applications, technologies, medical devices, tools and toys. A few examples: • Vendi is a filling station for reusable bottles: an environmentally friendly alternative to bottled beverages and vending machines. • SimpleRegistry is an online gift registry for life events that provides the flexibility of receiving cash gifts. • Hepato-Seal is a multifunctional laparoscopic medical device for liver resection. • WantBug is a reverse auction for cars. Car buyers place a "want" listing for the car they want to buy, then WantBug sends the listing to hundreds of local dealers who bid on the opportunity to sell the car. • ChoreMonster is a suite of mobile applications that helps parents get kids to do their chores. • Inkdt guitar skins offers an easy and affordable way to add custom artwork to any electric, acoustic or bass guitar. • Acceptd is a web-based tool that simplifies the video application process for university programs and saves time and money for both applicants and program directors. The goal of Cincinnati Innovates is to connect entrepreneurs to all the resources our region has to offer: incubators, angel investors, banks, mentors and experts. Past winners have received national media attention and have collectively raised more than $3 million in follow-on financing. The competition is open online at www.cincinnatiinnovates.com. The entry process is simple requires only a short description of the concept. Photos, videos and other media are also accepted and materials can be submitted confidentially to the judges. "My company has come such a long way in the last year, and much of that is thanks to winning Cincinnati Innovates," says Jocelyn Cates of VenueAgent. Cates, a marketing professional, proposed a wedding and event venue booking website that took the top prize of $25,000 last year. Cincinnati Innovates is sponsored by CincyTech, Taft, LPK, Vision 2015, the NKY eZone, Cincinnati Children's Hospital and 20 other regional sponsors.By Elizabeth Edwards

Power in proximity at The Brandery’s new OTR space

By Soapbox

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Architecture + Design

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July 12, 2011

Cincinnati-based business accelerator The Brandery began moving in late June into a three-story office space in the 1400 block of Vine Street. The rehabilitated building features high ceilings, an open floor plan and skylights that let in light to all floors - all desirable features in rapidly-revitalizing Over-the-Rhine.But The Brandery founders J.B. Kropp and Dave Knox say the features that go beyond the architecture are what will attract creative energy -- and a new generation of startup businesses -- from across the country."We looked at a couple of spots," says Kropp, who adds that the revitalization underway in Over-the-Rhine has turned what was once a no-go part of the city into a powerful introduction to Cincinnati for startups from out of town. "If we're going to pull in 15 to 20 people for their first experience of Cincinnati, this is going to be great for it."Knox added that, although the team considered other sites in Over-the-Rhine, Vine street's placement between Main Street and Washington Park made it ideal."It's more the heat of what's happening," he says of the glass-fronted office.Along with being a fitting introduction to the Queen City, Kropp and Knox say the 4,500-square-foot office is designed to cultivate idea sharing and connectivity among like-minded entrepreneurs. To that end, they say The Brandery office will be open for local startups and startup-related businesses to gather and work. "We envision seeing more people in Cincinnati coming in," Kropp says. "They might be saying, 'I'm not ready for funding yet, but can I just hang out?'"Knox adds that The Brandery hopes to serve as a meeting place for area tech and startup meetups, establishing the office space as a central gathering place for people to generate and cultivate new ideas."It's a good experience from all sides," Kropp says.The Brandery's newest class of startups will begin the business development program August 1. Knox says he's excited to begin the program in the new space, a location that he noted is much as he and Kropp envisioned when they launched The Brandery with Bryan Radtke and Rob McDonald in 2010. "We've been looking for a permanent home ever since we started," he says. "This place has power in its proximity."By Matt Cunningham

Doctors donate services as part of Project Access

By Newsroom

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Diversity

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July 12, 2011

From Alaska to Alabama, physicians' professional organizations agree that providing no-cost healthcare to those in need can be life-changing, not to mention life-saving. Cincinnati's Academy of Medicine has joined those ranks by starting Project Access, an award-winning program that marshals the forces of doctors willing to see a few patients a week for free or donate time in a health clinic. According to the Greater Cincinnati Community Health Status Survey (GCCHSS) in 2008, more than a quarter million Cincinnatians, or about one in 10, do not have health insurance.Most doctors already see a few patients per month for free, albeit some not voluntarily. The goals of Project Access are to coordinate that in-office care and supplement it with labs, diagnostic services and even transportation when needed. The benefits to the doctors, who can opt out at any time and donate as much or as little time as they choose, include pre-screening of patients as well as confidence in opportunities for relationship-building and ongoing care. As it takes shape, Cincinnati's Project Access will monitor patients as well as doctors to find out what kind of difference regular access to quality healthcare can make. Do good:• Make a donation. Support Project Access by contributing to the Academy of Medicine.• Ask your doctor to help. Project Access is recruiting now, so if you are or know of a doctor who can give an hour a week, email Donna Gilliam.• Find a physician. Need a specialist or general practitioner? Use the Academy's online directory for free.By Elissa YanceyPhoto courtesy of the Cincinnati Academy of Medicine

Radio captioning technology debuts in Ft. Mitchell

By Newsroom

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Diversity

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June 21, 2011

The company that first captioned radio so that people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing don't miss out on the latest news is demonstrating yet another piece of translational technology this week in Northern Kentucky.NPR Labs, the research and development arm of National Public Radio, has been working on ways to caption radio broadcasts for years. Products include on-screen captions as well as a dual-screen option for cars that allows drivers to see only a customized map of their location while passengers view a printed story on the same screen from a different angle.So when visually impaired listeners spoke out, anxious to receive the same kind of access to written news as their peers, NPR Labs responded. The new technology uses some elements of existing translation devices to create a direct port from the written transcript to transfer it to Braille. NPR Labs chose to debut and test their innovative new product at the American Association of the Deaf-Blind (AADB) 2011 National Symposium, a gathering of service support providers as well as the deaf-blind. It runs June 19 through 24 in Ft. Mitchell.Do Good:• Check out the agenda for the symposium.• Learn more about accessible radio.• Give a gift to support the work of Support Service Providers for the deaf-blind.By Elissa YanceyPhoto courtesy NPR Labs