Tulane health and wellness innovators shine at the 5th Open MIC Night

April 11, 2025

When more than 160 people packed into the Times-Picayune | NOLA.com headquarters in New Orleans on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, they might have been witnessing the next headline-worthy healthcare innovations and discoveries-from members of the Tulane community.

The Tulane Innovation Institute's largest-ever Open MIC (Medical Innovation Challenge) Night-in partnership with the Tulane School of Medicine's John W. Deming Department of Medicine-showcased ten standout healthcare innovators, with five walking away with funding and access to additional award opportunities. This fifth iteration of the biannual event, one of the Institute's original signature programs, was also held in collaboration with Startup NOLA NOW-a monthly meetup of startups, investors, and entrepreneurial ecosystem leaders organized by GNO Inc.'s Startup NOLA.

"This latest Open MIC Night showed what's possible when investors, startups, university innovators, and the local community collide," said Kimberly Gramm, PhD, David and Marion Chief Innovation & Entrepreneurship Officer at the Tulane Innovation Institute. "The caliber of innovations addressing new opportunities in healthcare solutions demonstrates that Tulane University-and the city of New Orleans-is the place to watch for the next big thing in medical innovations to make the world a better place."