TMC PULSE

t m c » p u l s e | d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 4 24 T he path that unfolds before aspiring entrepreneurs pursuing innovations in health care isn't always a smooth one. Between clambering up the monumen- tal summit of acquiring funds, ducking and weaving through the logistical hurdles of facilities operations, and navigating the necessities of everything from equipment to expertise, there's no shortage of obsta- cles to overcome. These problems are often frus- tratingly divorced from the mechanics of the actual science involved, which can become mummified by the realities of a conventional business trajectory. The chasm between the core concept and the end goal of a patient solution can seem expansive. In an effort to bridge that divide, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, LLC., recently announced plans to expand J-Labs (formally known as Janssen Labs), Johnson & Johnson's network of life science incuba- tors, to include a new facility located within the Texas Medical Center's Innovation Institute. Adjacent to TMCx—the new accelerator and a core component of the Innovation Institute—the 30,000-square-foot J-Labs facility will accommodate up to 50 life science startups. "The arrival of J-Labs @TMC creates a resource- rich environment that will not only support new An Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Johnson & Johnson innovation is expanding to the texas medical center in their efforts to translate scientific discoveries into commercialized medical solutions B y A l e x O r l a n d o left: J-labs san diego opened its doors in January 2012, offering emerging life science companies modular wet lab units and office space. top and lower right: at J-labs san diego, scientists strive to transform innovative research into medical solutions. (credit: J-labs) startups fueled by the numerous medical and research institutes in the region, but will also be attractive to investors and entrepreneurs in the strong Texas life sci- ence industry," said Robert C. Robbins, M.D., president and chief executive officer of the Texas Medical Center. "We look forward to launching the life science incubator in our space with J-Labs and supporting their efforts to help bring innovation in the region to market." Helping great ideas cross that threshold between a viable concept and a commercial product has defined the aspirations of Melinda Richter, head of J-Labs. "We believe that great science is just as likely to come from outside the walls of a big company," she affirmed. "The fact of the matter is that great science that comes from outside of those confines has many more hurdles to get over to become a patient solution. Much of that science dies not because it's not great science, but because it has so many other things it has to deal with. We want to liberate that science—we want to elevate it to have a shot at being a patient solution because the science behind it is great, rather than having it fail for all of those other reasons. "Houston is a flourishing life science hub in which we see great potential for an incubator to enable the talented scientists in the region to take their innovation to the next level," added Richter. "The continued demand for our J-Labs model fueled our decision to expand with J-Labs @TMC, which furthers our goal of helping entrepreneurs advance science that has the potential to become transformational solutions for patients." The flagship location, J-Labs in San Diego, opened its doors in January 2012, offering emerging life science companies a seemingly bottomless arsenal of resources. Within a 40,000-square-foot research and development site, half of the available space was designated as either common business space—includ- ing a business center, conference room, kitchen and library—or shared research areas brimming with spe- cialized equipment ranging from core chemistry labs to tissue culture rooms. The remaining space offers fledgling companies modular wet lab units and office space—they pay only for the space they need while still preserving the option to expand, depending on the resources available to them. "You could have something as small as a cube and a five-foot bench, where you could get started in lit- erally 24 hours and pay as you go," explained Richter. "Alternatively, you could grow all the way up, in incre- mental units, up to 5,000 square feet. The whole point

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