NYSCF Research Institute Named One of Four New Biotech R&D Facilities by NYC

The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) announced an investment in four new biotech research and development facilities, including the NYSCF Research Institute. This grant will support equipment at the NYSCF Research Institute that will help scale up its studies and drug discovery efforts into diseases such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes, cancer, and more.

“New York City has fought back COVID-19 by trusting science and working closely with our partners in the scientific community. That work is only just beginning,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio in a press release. “As we rebuild a fairer and better city, it’s time to make New York City a global leader in pandemic response. This city will stand with the life sciences in good times and bad, and I can’t wait to see what our world-class partners will create in the years to come.”

This funding will enable the translation of NYSCF’s research into new drugs and treatments ready for the clinic, as well as foster collaborations with local universities, biotechnology companies, pharmaceutical companies, and technology organizations. The equipment will increase NYSCF’s cell production capacity, process-development abilities, and drug screening capabilities. The grant will also fund equipment for the NYSCF Research Institute clinical laboratory to further enable precision medicine.

“We must accelerate both the pace and success rate of developing new and better treatments for patients, and to do so it is essential for research scientists and companies to perform end-to-end drug screening on the human cells that are actually affected by the diseases we are trying to cure,” said NYSCF founder and CEO Susan L. Solomon. “This new equipment will enable us to realize this opportunity and execute all aspects of a drug screening program right in New York City at our Translational Stem Cell Research Facility, working in close collaboration with scientists and clinicians from the City’s great institutions. Developing drugs and new treatments on human cells is critical and I am very excited that the City continues to make this a priority.”

Other recipients of funding include Columbia University’s Therapeutic Validation Center, Einstein-Montefiore Biotechnology Accelerated Research Center, and Rockefeller University’s Tri-Institutional Translational Center for Therapeutics. The grant awards announced totaled a $38 million investment in life sciences in New York City, with $6.5 million awarded to the NYSCF Research Institute.

“New York City’s prioritization of the life sciences has not only delivered thousands of new jobs and fostered tremendous innovation, it has also yielded meaningful scientific progress, developing hundreds of new cures and treatments. I am thrilled that the City has decided to continue these fruitful efforts by investing millions in organizations like Columbia University and the New York Stem Cell Foundation, whose work seeks to better prepare our city for future health emergencies and overcome current crises, including COVID-19,” said Rep. Jerry Nadler. “I’m grateful to have the City’s support for the life-saving research being done by life science organizations in my district and I will continue to work on their behalf as they strive to build a healthier, safer New York.”