Cardio Diagnostics Holdings, Inc., a pioneering precision cardiovascular medicine company founded by UI faculty Dr. Robert Philibert and UI graduate Dr. Meesha Dogan, today announced the completion of its business combination with Mana Capital Acquisition Corp., a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company.

Eli Lilly has agreed to acquire Akouos for up to $610 million, in a deal intended to expand the buyer’s presence in gene therapy with a focus on treating inner ear disorders. Akouos, which has licensed key technology from the University of Iowa, develops targeted adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector-based gene therapies for conditions that include sensorineural hearing loss, integrating expertise in otology and inner ear drug delivery, as well as gene therapy.

The University of Iowa Research Foundation (UIRF) will host a series of online courses about how to move technology from the university to the marketplace for all University of Iowa faculty, staff, postdocs, and graduate students.