The Cleveland Clinic and Ohio State University (OSU) have set up a partnership to create the largest medical commercialization network in Ohio.
Chris Coburn, executive director of Cleveland Clinic Innovations, said: “There really can be no more significant alliance than this teaming of our two institutions up and down I-71. We will help to change the face of innovation in the state.”
Dr. Ali Rezai, director of OSU’s Center for Neuromodulation, said the innovations under development could transform Ohio into a hub for neuromodulation — much like Minneapolis has become renowned for cardiac pacemakers. That type of recognition would help spur economic development by attracting to Ohio companies with high-tech jobs.
Rezai, who worked at the Clinic until he left for OSU in 2009, said neuromodulation can treat a range of problems, from Parkinson’s disease and asthma to obesity and obsessive compulsive disorder.
One technology under development is a neurological pacemaker the size of a Tic Tac that can be inserted in your cheek and activated with a cell phone, Rezai said.