Wilmington Innovation Forum

Wilmington Innovation Forum: a monthly, one-hour program spotlighting the ideas, expertise, and research shaping our region’s future. Wilmington Innovation Forum will take place on the first Thursday of every month, with lunch provided.

Each session features a UNCW faculty member or community expert sharing a 35–40-minute talk on their area of expertise, whether in technology, science, business, or other fields, followed by a 20-minute interactive Q&A. At its core, the forum is about knowledge sharing and collaborative learning. It’s an opportunity to explore new ideas, gain fresh insights, and connect university and community partners in meaningful conversations that drive innovation and growth. 

Upcoming Sessions:

From August through November, the Wilmington Innovation Forum will feature a special Brain Health Series, bringing together leading researchers, innovators, healthcare professionals, and entrepreneurs to explore one of the most important topics shaping our future: brain health. Each session will take place on the first Thursday of every month, with lunch provided.

Across three thought-provoking sessions (August, September, and November, with no October session due to the Ocean Innovation Conference), attendees will gain insights into emerging research, innovative technologies, and practical strategies that are advancing our understanding of the brain and improving quality of life.

November Wilmington Innovation Forum:

Translational Brain Health

Thursday, November 5 | noon - 1:00 p.m.

Speakers:  Dr. Ying Wang and Dr. Todd Peterson

A multidisciplinary research team led by Dr. Todd Peterson, Dr. Arthur Frampton, and Dr. Ying Wang is developing a novel biopharmaceutical intervention for the treatment of strokes and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). The team uses artificial intelligent (AI) tools to design novel GLP1R agonists (the type of peptide drugs like Ozempic) that can effectively control progressive brain cell death caused by strokes and TBIs. These drugs also have the potential to improve the prognosis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease.

Learn About:

• Developing AI-designed biopharmaceuticals to treat stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and neurodegenerative diseases.
• Harnessing AI and innovative drug design to protect brain cells and improve recovery after injury.
  

Who: Entrepreneurs, UNCW faculty, staff, and students

Where: UNCW CIE

Cost: Free for CIE members, tenants, mentors, coworkers, and UNCW staff and faculty. $5.00 for non-CIE members.

November Registration Below!

If you have any questions, please contact CIE Program Manager, Lydia Thomas, at bjorklundl@uncw.edu.

Presenting Sponsor:

Supporting Sponsor: