• Dr. Philip Low of La Jolla-based NeuroVigil, Inc. headed a diverse team of engineers, programmers and students to create the iBrain, a portable brain-monitoring device. Low and his team received the award for the “most innovative new product” in the life sciences/diagnostics and research tools category at the 23rd annual award program presented by CONNECT, a local nonprofit that promotes science and technology. Stanford University is set to start a two-year study in January using the device to monitor the brain waves of autistic children in the comfort of their own homes. “We created the iBrain with the hope that we would be able to revolutionize patient care,” Low said. “It was designed with patient comfort and safety in mind.” • Vanessa Von Taub earned a year’s worth of free food at Rubio’s Mexican Grill as the winner of the Rubio’s Foursquare contest. The franchise, which opened last month at 7350 Fay Ave., held a 12-day-long contest in which contestants could check in using the Foursquare application on their smart phones to receive a free taco at the restaurant. Von Taub ate at the restaurant every day from Dec. 6 to Dec. 17, and was declared the “mayor” of the contest when it ended Dec. 17.
