Boston Innovation Center opens its doors
Johnson & Johnson open new facility in Boston (MA, USA) to encourage local research collaboration.
In a recent press release, Johnson & Johnson announced the opening a new center in Boston (MA, USA). The innovation center is part of ‘Johnson and Johnson Innovation’ – a division of the company that focuses on “accelerating early innovation and enhancing opportunities for collaboration and investment across Johnson & Johnson’s global healthcare businesses.”
The center allows collaboration of the pharmaceutical giant with local research institutions, biotechnology firms, and life science start-ups – with the first of these announced at the opening of the center. Johnson & Johnson are to collaborate with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, on research into novel therapeutics for inflammatory bowel disease; with Rodin Therapeutics, to further this biotechnology company’s research into novel therapeutics for neurological disorders; and with Vedanta Biosciences, in the form of an investment to advance their work on a novel class of therapies in immunology.
Paul Stoffels, Johnson & Johnson’s Chief Scientific Officer and Worldwide Chairman, Pharmaceuticals, said of the development: “The East Coast’s significance as a hotbed for life sciences innovation grounded in collaboration is indisputable, and continues to grow. With the establishment of our Boston Innovation Center, we look forward to further fostering collaboration with some of the world’s leading scientists, renowned academic centers, and influential entrepreneurs to enable future innovations that will advance human health.”
The center follows the opening of similar establishments in London and California earlier in 2013. Additionally, the opening of a fourth center, in Shanghai, is planned for the end of the year. The placement of these innovation centers are determined by the robustness of the local life sciences community; to allow maximum potential for investment and collaboration.
Speaking about the location of the new Boston Innovation Center, Governor Deval Patrick said: “In Massachusetts we invest in the life sciences because we are choosing to shape our own future. I welcome the Johnson & Johnson Innovation center to our life sciences supercluster and look forward to the jobs and economic opportunities that their new collaborations will bring.”
Source: Johnson & Johnson Announces Opening of Boston Innovation Center.
