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New York State aims to establish a cell and gene therapy innovation hub in Nassau County. It also plans to create an associated incubator designed to “catalyze cell therapy research, development, clinical manufacturing and commercialization” across New York State, according to a news release from Gov. Kathy Hochul.
The state has put out a request for proposal to develop the Long Island Center for Cell and Gene Therapy with a goal to transform the field of medical research and advance life-saving cancer treatments. More than $150 million is available from the state for this initiative.
The RFP submission deadline is March 12, 2024, at 5 p.m.
“This Long Island hub will help to expand New York’s footprint in cell and gene therapy, a growing new field of medicine that is paving the way for transformative, life-saving treatments,” Hochul said in a written statement.
“From Lake Success to Lake Erie, New York is continuing to drive innovation in the life sciences to create good-paying jobs, improve the lives of countless New Yorkers, and bring the future of medicine to our state,” she added.
The Long Island Cell and Gene Therapy Hub is planned to be housed in Lake Success, on approximately 15 acres, with close proximity to Northwell Health, and not far from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and several other research institutions in the New York metropolitan region, according to the state.
“The Long Island Hub is pivotal to our efforts to expand our statewide cell and gene therapy ecosystem and facilitate collaboration across our great research universities and the private sector,” Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, in a written statement.
“This new hub will be unmatched in capability and economic potential and will establish New York State as the leading center for cell and gene therapy research, development and patient care in the nation,” she added.
ESD issued the RFP seeking developers to build and operate this facility, at approximately 200,000 square feet, with opportunity for future expansion on the 15-acre site where the Hub will be situated. ESD will invest up to $150 million toward development of this facility, and this funding may be complemented by additional financial support from other economic development programs. More information, including site visit dates, is available in the RFP.
In addition to advancing the development of cell and gene therapies, the hub would create economic development opportunities that include the creation of startup businesses, attraction of companies from outside of New York, talent and job growth, and cluster development.
The hub would house leading providers of services and technologies required by cell and gene therapy developers who will create and bring to market these treatments. Ultimately, it would be designed to enable these treatments to reach more patients, more quickly.
Additionally, the Long Island Hub would include a dedicated business incubation space to further enhance the facility’s success by supporting early-stage therapeutic developers translating scientific discovery to phase 1 clinical trials. The incubator would assist promising early-stage businesses in this field by offering use of the facility and its services such as networking and mentorship and fostering connections with venture capital firms and other investors.
With a location in Lake Success, the center would be close ty to New York City, especially Queens, a diverse area where 150 languages are spoken. The Long Island regions offers access to a uniquely diverse population to participate in clinical trials. Diversity of trial participants is critically important to ensure appropriate evaluation of a treatment such as cell and gene therapy, which is personalized to individuals, or specific groups of individuals.
“With the establishment of the Long Island Cell and Gene Therapy Innovation Hub, New York State will bring together research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization under one roof and strengthen Long Island’s role as a global leader in the life sciences,” Empire State Development Board Chairman Kevin Law said in a written statement.
“This historic investment will push the boundaries of what is possible, bridging innovation and impact to create jobs and deliver life-saving therapies,” he added.
“We are excited to support and be part of Governor Hochul’s vision to make Long Island and New York a leading center for cell and gene therapy and are thrilled that Northwell has played a role in bringing this state-of-the-art facility to Long Island,” Northwell Health President and CEO Michael Dowling said, in a written statement.
“This cutting-edge hub will be a game changer for cancer researchers, innovative companies, clinicians, and patients and will foster collaboration and advance commercialization of new cell and gene therapies. We look forward to the positive impact it will have across Long Island, New York State and beyond,” he added.
“Governor Hochul and New York State have made a remarkable investment in the future of cell and gene therapy that will surely spur the development of new therapies and the growth of many new and important companies,” the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy Chief Scientific Officer John Connolly said, in a written statement.
“By accelerating CGT therapies, this next generation hub on Long Island will have a dramatic impact on patient outcomes not only in New York, but globally,” Connolly added.
“The New York State cell and gene therapy initiative on Long Island will be a most welcome addition to the region’s biomedical research enterprise, and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory looks forward to partnering with the CGT initiative,” Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory President and CEO Bruce Stillman, said in a written statement.
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Adina Genn
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