University of Iowa spin-out company Viewpoint Molecular Technology will present at the National Council of Entrepreneurial Tech Transfer (NCET2) University Startups Demo Day on Sept. 20 in Washington, D.C.

Founded in 2008 with the support of UI Ventures and housed in the University of Iowa Research Park's BioVentures Center, Viewpoint Molecular Targeting was one of 35 companies representing universities around the country to be selected as “Best University Startups 2016” and to present to an audience of corporations, venture capitalists, angel investors, and members of Congress. NCET2 estimates that more than 800 university startups are launched each year; in 2016, roughly 200 of those were considered for selection.

Viewpoint Molecular Targeting develops pharmaceutical drugs for diagnostic imagining and therapy for cancer, with a focus on metastatic melanoma. To date, Viewpoint has successfully secured over $1.2 million through NIH Small Business Innovation Research grants, Iowa Economic Development Authority Demonstration Funds, Innovation Iowa Corporation Matching Funds, and contracts to pharmaceutical industry partners. The company is aiming to begin clinical trials for its lead product and has other products in the development pipeline.

“Our technology has the potential to save lives,” says Frances L. Johnson, Viewpoint Molecular Targeting co-founder and chief medical officer. “The selection by NCET2 to present at Demo Day gives us another great opportunity to make that a reality, and we’re excited.”