Bio Nebraska announced today that Virtual Incision has been named the 2024 recipient of the Governor’s Bioscience Award.
This prestigious award, which recognizes individuals and companies making significant contributions to the Nebraska bioscience industry, was presented by Governor Jim Pillen during an award presentation ceremony at Bio Nebraska’s Annual Event on Oct. 2, 2024, in Lincoln, Nebraska.
“We need to do more bragging about the ingenuity and innovation that comes out of Nebraska, and this company is a perfect example,” said Gov. Pillen. “The technology developed by Virtual Incision is nothing short of revolutionary. The result will be incredibly impactful to patients who undergo any number of medical procedures, as well as the surgeons who use it. It’s a pleasure to recognize the company with the Governor’s Bioscience Award.”
Headquartered in Lincoln, Neb., Virtual Incision is revolutionizing robotic-assisted surgery with over 200 patents and patent applications and a team of 68 innovators. The company’s mission is to make every operating room robot-ready with the MIRATM Surgical System (MIRA), the world’s first miniaturized robotic-assisted (miniRAS) device. Designed to be compact, capable, and convenient, MIRA is setting a new standard in the field of robotic surgery.
“For more than a decade, we’ve focused on a vision to miniaturize robotic-assisted surgery so that it can be available to any patient, anytime, anywhere,” said Shane Farritor, Ph.D., Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Virtual Incision. “I am extremely proud of the milestones we’ve been able to achieve this year, and we thank Bio Nebraska and Governor Pillen for recognizing the significance of our work.”
In February of this year, MIRA became commercially available in the United States for mobilization of the colon in adults undergoing minimally invasive colectomy procedures. The miniRAS system is currently being evaluated in a clinical study in Switzerland to analyze its use in benign gynecologic procedures, with the intention of using the data for international regulatory submissions.
To demonstrate their mission to bring robotic surgery to any location, the company collaborated with the University of Nebraska and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to launch spaceMIRA. During this mission, six surgeons successfully completed simulated surgical tasks from the company’s headquarters while the device was in orbit on the International Space Station. The findings of the testing may apply to surgery in space or on Earth, with future potential for surgeons to perform procedures remotely. Miniaturization could be a breakthrough in remote surgery by dramatically simplifying workflows at the site where the patient is located.
“October is Bioscience Month in Nebraska and we are looking forward to celebrating the accomplishments of Bio Nebraska members and the growth of Nebraska’s bioscience industry throughout the month,” said Rob Owen, Executive Director of Bio Nebraska. “I can’t think of a better way to kick off Bioscience Month than presenting Virtual Incision with the Governor’s Bioscience Award.”
The Governor’s Bioscience Award is presented annually to an individual or company that has made significant contributions to Nebraska’s bioscience industry. The selection criteria range from conducting innovative research to product development to investment that grows the bioscience community in Nebraska. The award was accepted by Farritor.