Academia, Industry and Military Converge at Second Annual AIM Health R&D Summit
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SAN ANTONIO (June 16, 2025) — The AIM Health R&D Summit takes place today at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, where representatives from academia, industry, and the military will come together to promote cross-sector collaboration in the development of dual-use healthcare technologies offering both military and civilian applications.
Presented by VelocityTX, The University of Texas at San Antonio, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio), the City of San Antonio, and Bexar County, the event is expected to draw more than 900 attendees from across the United States.
“San Antonio leads the nation in military medical innovation due to its unique colocation of academic institutions, military medical research units, and private sector innovators,” said VelocityTX President and CEO Rene Dominguez. “The AIM Summit provides a forum where these parties can come together to drive advancements that benefit both military personnel and civilian populations.”
The summit will commence with opening remarks by San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, emphasizing the city’s commitment to fostering a robust ecosystem for medical research and innovation. Mayor Nirenberg’s remarks will be followed by a keynote address from Lt. Gen. Robert I. Miller (Ret.), Executive Director of the Military Health Institute at UT Health San Antonio. Prior to joining the Military Health Institute, Miller served as Surgeon General for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force.
Designed to advance emerging technologies “from the bench to the battlefield,” the conference will feature presentations on a variety of military medical focus areas, as well as panel discussions that bridge the gap between research and commercialization. Private sector attendees will have the opportunity to schedule face-to-face meetings with a panel of DoD/VA subject matter experts.
“Increasingly we hear from our military partners that collaboration with industry is critical to the DoD’s medical mission,” Dominguez said. “AIM provides that point of connection, and for the private sector, AIM demystifies the process of doing business with the military.”
The event will conclude at 5:00 p.m. with a networking reception and poster presentations that showcase the research of students, trainees, faculty, and staff.
Additional details, event schedules, and speaker information may be found here.
Location:
Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center
Ballroom Level, Rooms 301-305
900 E Market St.
San Antonio, TX 78205
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About VelocityTX
Formerly known as the Texas Research & Technology Foundation, VelocityTX is a nonprofit organization established in 1984 to promote sustainable economic and community growth. In carrying out this mission, the organization seeks to advance San Antonio’s life sciences industry through the development of a state-of-the-art bioscience innovation campus on the city’s near east side. Based out of the former Merchants Ice & Cold Storage complex, the master planned development will bring together established bioscience companies, healthcare startups, and military medical research organizations in an inclusive community where ideas collide to spur medical breakthroughs. VelocityTX also promotes workforce development through its Step Into STEM program, and provides entrepreneurial support services designed to accelerate the commercialization of emerging medical technologies. Learn more at velocitytx.org.
| Brian Peters |
| Director of Marketing and Communications VelocityTX |
| brian@velocitytx.org, (210) 904-5984 |
Applications Open for Community Health Accelerator 2025 Cohort
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
First-of-its-Kind Program Seeks to Advance Health Equity
SAN ANTONIO (March 26, 2025) – VelocityTX, the Eastside innovation hub and economic development organization, announced today the opening of applications for the 2025 cohort of its Community Health Accelerator, a specialized program designed to advance startups focused on commercializing solutions that address the social determinants of health (SDOH).
Launched in 2023, the annual accelerator is the cornerstone of a multi-year partnership with Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. (MHM). “The Community Health Accelerator is propelling innovation and sustainable solutions at the intersection of business and community impact that can transform healthcare delivery for those most in need,” said MHM President and CEO Jaime Wesolowski. “We are excited to see what the 2025 applicants will bring to the table as we seek to address the social determinants of health and advance health and wellness in communities across South Texas.”
Conducted over eight weeks beginning in August, the Community Health Accelerator will provide founders with resources and training to help navigate the challenges of early-stage growth. The program offers classroom-style business training and operational guidance, and each participant will receive personalized mentoring and pitch coaching from local business leaders.
The program culminates in a public Demo Day, where the five companies selected for the cohort will showcase their innovations for a panel of judges.
“The Community Health Accelerator is a first-of-its-kind program and we are excited that San Antonio is leading the conversation around this critical area of healthcare,” said Rene Dominguez, President and CEO of VelocityTX. “Our 2024 cohort represented some of the most innovative companies from across North America, and we look forward to helping advance a new class of social entrepreneurs to the forefront.”
The program’s 2024 winner, Dallas-based Yumlish, recently launched a community pilot of their technology in the Rio Grande Valley, where they hope to combat diabetes with their culturally-relevant nutrition management platform. “We have worked hard to create an accessible solution for Spanish-speaking communities, and we are so excited about the impact Yumlish will have in the Rio Grande Valley,” said Founder and CEO Shireen Abdullah.
Companies interested in applying to the Community Health Accelerator may do so here. Applications will close on June 15, 2025.
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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.
Methodist Healthcare Ministries broadens the definition of healthcare by providing low-cost clinical care for the uninsured and by supporting community-led efforts that improve living conditions that cause people to be sick in the first place. We use our earnings as co-owners of Methodist Healthcare to ensure that people who are economically disadvantaged and uninsured can live their healthiest lives. We do this by advocating for, investing in and providing access to quality clinical care and addressing factors that affect health—including economic mobility, supportive relationships, food security, broadband access, and safe neighborhoods. Ultimately, we fulfill our mission of “Serving Humanity to Honor God” by advancing health equity so that more resilient individuals & families living in the 74 counties we serve can thrive.
About VelocityTX
Formerly known as the Texas Research & Technology Foundation, VelocityTX is a nonprofit organization established in 1984 to promote sustainable economic and community growth. In carrying out this mission, the organization seeks to advance San Antonio’s life sciences industry through the development of a state-of-the-art bioscience innovation campus on the city’s near east side. Based out of the former Merchants Ice & Cold Storage complex, the master planned development will bring together established bioscience companies, healthcare startups, and military medical research organizations in an inclusive community where ideas collide to spur medical breakthroughs. VelocityTX also promotes workforce development through its Step Into STEM program, and provides entrepreneurial support services designed to accelerate the commercialization of emerging medical technologies. Learn more at velocitytx.org.
| Brian Peters | Teno Villarreal |
| Director of Marketing and Communications VelocityTX | Public Relations Specialist Methodist Healthcare Ministries |
| brian@velocitytx.org, (210) 904-5984 | avillarreal1@mhm.org, (210) 787-6757 |