Explore UAB

By Catie James Wilson | Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Electric Indigo LLC, a University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) spinout, has partnered with local medical technology development center Hardware Park to develop new light-emitting eyewear designed to suppress the progression of myopia, or nearsightedness, in children.

By Amy Jones | Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The Blazer App Accelerator (BAA), a University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) program for fast-tracking software innovation, has announced its second cohort of innovators.

By Catie James Wilson | Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

A new company, founded by a prolific University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) inventor and entrepreneur, is working to close gaps in global health care by offering patients in underserved regions access to second opinions from UAB physicians and surrounding healthcare providers.

By Amy Jones | Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

A professor of orthopaedic surgery, who has co-founded two startup businesses and is actively working on launching more, received the Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s highest honor during the institute’s annual Innovation Awards Oct. 10, 2025.

By Catie James Wilson | Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

While University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) inventors are well-known for coming up with innovative ideas, sometimes those ideas need some clarification and refining before they’re ready to roll out.

By Catie James Wilson | Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) startup company ResBiotic recently announced $14.5 million in funding, which includes an $8 million Series A round. The funding will help expand the company’s fast-growing line of products, grow retail and online distribution, and strengthen corporate operations.

By Catie James Wilson | Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

A fast-growing University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) startup company was recently featured in the Wall Street Journal.

By Amy Jones | Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

In its third year, the Blazer Bridge Fund (BBF) will provide support to nine innovative projects from University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) inventors, including the development of a novel antibody to target cancer, a matrix for advanced membranous bone regeneration, and a web-based AI communication coaching app.

By Amy Jones | Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

A global pharmaceutical company based in India has committed to a major investment in a UAB startup working to pioneer breakthrough FDA-approved therapeutics for lung diseases.

By Amy Jones | Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

A standout University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) startup company is being recognized for its innovation efforts.

By Amy Jones | Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Kathy Nugent, Ph.D., who serves as Senior Associate Vice President and Chief Biotechnology and Innovation Officer for the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), is one of three UAB leaders to be named to the 2025 Birmingham Business Journal (BBJ) Power 60 list.

By Amy Jones | Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Members of the first cohort of the Blazer App Accelerator (BAA), a new program designed to jumpstart software innovation across the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) campus, have moved into the program’s second stage.

By Amy Jones | Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The Blazer App Accelerator (BAA), a new program designed to jumpstart software innovation across the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) campus, has its first cohort.

By Amy Jones | Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

A University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) spin-off company is expanding its international reach with a new strategic distribution agreement in Mexico.

By Amy Jones | Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Within the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Engineering is a department that got its start working with NASA in the 1980s. Since then, the Engineering and Innovative Technology Development (EITD) team has continued to work with NASA and with other federal partners such as the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Energy, as well as with local partners such as the UAB Heersink School of Medicine.

The EITD, which employs more than 30 people, is a full-service organization that assists customers with services and products through all phases of development, from concept and construction to implementation and operation.

This department has also served as a launching ground of sorts for many UAB innovations. Staff at the Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (HIIE), UAB’s technology transfer office, often refer inventors to the EITD when they need help bringing an idea to life.

By Amy Jones | Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Potential software and app innovators from across the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) now have a new local resource.

The UAB Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (HIIE) recently launched the Blazer App Accelerator, a program that will help would-be UAB software and app creators validate their ideas and create prototypes ready for the next step of development.

By Amy Jones | Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The director of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Comprehensive Diabetes Center, who also founded a start-up focused on oral treatments for diabetes, received the Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (HIIE)’s highest honor during the institute’s annual Innovation Awards Oct. 11, 2024.

By Amy Jones | Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Endomimetics, a University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) start-up, this week announced a $2.8 million funding award from the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to develop a peptide-based biomaterial for use after medical procedures.

By Amy Jones | Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

In its second year of existence, the Blazer Bridge Fund (BBF) will provide support to six innovative projects from University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) inventors, including a device to prevent neonatal apnea, a tool to help ICU patients remain safely hydrated, and continued development of a possible therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease, among others.

By Amy Jones | Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) recently named the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) one of six universities that are finalists for the 12^th annual APLU Innovation & Economic Prosperity (IEP) Awards.

By Amy Jones | Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

According to the Birmingham Business Journal (BBJ), Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Executive Director Kathy Nugent, Ph.D., is again considered one of Birmingham’s most important business leaders.

By Amy Jones | Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

A University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) spinoff company, Yuva Biosciences, has closed a $7.5 million seed round intended to help the company continue its advances in addressing mitochondrial dysfunction – a major cause of aging.

By Amy Jones | Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

For Francis “Wink” Crittenden, Ph.D., a great day at work means at getting least one problem solved. Fortunately for Crittenden, a licensing associate with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)’s Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (HIIE), the nature of his job – and the quality of his team – usually means he has a great day.

By Amy Jones | Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Two of Alabama Inno’s Startups to Watch for 2024 are University of Alabama at Birmingham spin-offs: Alveolus Bio and Reliant Glycosciences.

By Amy Jones | Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

State-based recipients of Phase I and Phase II Federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants are again eligible to apply for up to $250,000 in supplemental funding.

By Amy Jones | Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

A University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) professor who has launched two start-ups was honored with the Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s (HIIE’s) most prestigious award during the institute’s annual Innovation Awards Oct. 13.

By Amy Jones | Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The first six projects funded by the new Blazer Bridge Fund (BBF) include, among others, potential new therapies for viral infections, designed protein nanopores, AI-based solutions for lung function assessments and a social app for teachers.

By Amy Jones | Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

A new UAB start-up company is working to treat Crohn’s disease earlier than ever.

By Amy Jones | Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Transportation for critically ill patients is an essential component of navigating the journey to better health – literally and figuratively. However, ensuring comfortable, safe patient transportation that is also easy on the caregiver is often overlooked.

Tracy and Scott Comas are here to change that with the Care Continuum Chair, a product of their UAB start-up company, TPM Research.

By Amy Jones | Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Executive Director Kathy Nugent, Ph.D., has again been named one of Birmingham’s most influential executives.