Issue link: https://tmcpulse.uberflip.com/i/1035803
t m c » p u l s e | o c t o b e r 2 0 1 8 2 TMC | PULSE Vol. 5 No. 9 October 2018 President and Chief Executive Officer William F. McKeon Communications Director Ryan Holeywell Pulse Editor Maggie Galehouse mgalehouse@tmc.edu Assistant Editor Cindy George cgeorge@tmc.edu Staff Writers Alexandra Becker Christine Hall Britni R. McAshan Shanley Pierce Photojournalist Cody Duty Contributing Photographer Scott Dalton NEWSROOM 713-791-8812 news@tmc.edu ADVERTISING Felicia Zbranek-Zeitman 713-791-8829 newsads@tmc.edu DISTRIBUTION Daniel Martinez 713-791-6136 distribution@tmc.edu READ US ONLINE tmc.edu/news FOLLOW US @TXMedCenter @texasmedcenter @thetexasmedicalcenter TMC Pulse is an award-winning monthly publication of the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas. Permission from the editor is required to reprint any material. WILLIAM F. McKEON President and Chief Executive Officer Texas Medical Center Mark Mulligan/© Houston Chronicle. Used with permission. I recently traveled to London and, together with United Kingdom government and research leader- ship, announced a BioBridge partnership between the Texas Medical Center and the UK. This unique collaboration is a testament to the Texas Medical Center (TMC) and the UK's commitment to fostering the cross-pollination of ideas and innovation in the life sciences to accelerate discovery. What, exactly, does this part- nership mean? First, it solves a key challenge facing early stage companies. Those startups require a great deal of nurturing and support, and that's especially true when they expand beyond their home country into new markets. The BioBridge aligns the life sci- ence startup communities across the UK with the TMC Innovation Institute. UK-based companies are now able to house themselves at the TMC and tap into our network of investors and experts. And the reverse is true, too: startups housed here at the TMC now will have an access point into the UK. The BioBridge serves as a mutual port of entry, where startups can establish a base and learn the regulatory nuances of a new market while building key relationships. Second, the BioBridge aligns leading UK insti- tutions, including Cambridge University, Oxford University, Manchester University and the University of Leeds, with the leadership of the Texas Medical Center. Researchers from both countries will collab- orate on a range of projects, including the devel- opment and advancement of genomics and cancer treatments. For example, researchers are developing ways to use artificial intelligence to target treatments based on an individual's distinctive genomic profile. It was exciting to see the genuine support and enthusiasm from UK partners, including Baroness Rona Fairhead, UK Minister of State for the Department of International Trade; and Sir Mark Walport, chief exec- utive of UK Research Innovation, a government funding agency; along with leaders of some of the most prestigious universities in the United Kingdom and the Texas Medical Center. Importantly, we don't see this as a one-time partnership. We've established a BioBridge with Australia, as well, and we expect to develop more of these types of relationships as we continue to advance the Texas Medical Center's role as an international leader—and partner—in the life sciences. Our BioBridge partnership is designed to share knowledge, technologies and insights to leverage our collective capabilities to develop treatments faster. We are united in our passion and dedication for improving the health of humanity. President's Perspective McKeon, Fairhead and Walport