TMC PULSE

t m c » p u l s e | m a r c h 2 0 1 6 18 18 "Forging a partnership with Johnson & Johnson and building JLABS @TMC was the cornerstone of the TMC strategy to build an innovation platform for the entire medical center," said William F. McKeon, Texas Medical Center executive vice president and chief strat- egy and operating officer. "This is a tremendous start to a series of industry partnerships that will further advance our capabilities." "This is how you build a critical mass," Schuler said. "This is how you get people from both inside and outside of the Texas Medical Center—as well as inside and outside of Texas—to say that something really important is happening here. We've got to give it a serious look and explore what it is that's so special about Houston. Part of that appeal has stemmed from our great partnership with the Texas Medical Center. We see a lot of synergies here, and that relationship is still growing, every day." For Schuler, who characterized the relation- ship between JLABS and the Texas Medical Center as "joined at the hip," the two organiza- tions have been aligned in vision and execution, even sharing space at TMCx+, the Texas Medical Center's coworking space, while JLABS @TMC was under construction. "We're one team," added Richter. "We're not two organizations but one team that has a com- mon purpose: to make a difference for people around the world. When you share a vision like that, it's a powerful motivator to cut through the nonsense and focus on what matters. We transcend the issues because we know that this is about something bigger than both of us." Between TMCx, TMCx+, JLABS @TMC, and, most recently, the AT&T Foundry for Connected Health—which focuses on digital health innovations that benefit those in and out of the clinical care environment—the TMC Innovation Institute is bursting at the seams, coalescing into a powerful biotechnology cluster that is poised to rival those on the East and West Coasts. For the 12 companies who have already signed licensing agreements with JLABS @TMC—including seven therapeutics, three digital and consumer-facing health compa- nies and two companies in the medical device space—this is just the beginning. "I think the opportunities here in Houston are tremendous," Schuler said. "The quality of innovation and the quality of the research that's being done in the Texas Medical Center is second to none. I can say that because I've seen, firsthand, those great innovators for the past 12 years at different academic institutions and hospitals. "There's also an emerging vision of the new leaders who have come to lead some of the institutions, who truly believe in making great discoveries that happen within their premises accessible to patients," she added. "There's a mindset that's evolving, and I think we're capturing that particular moment in time." Forging a partnership with Johnson & Johnson and building JLABS @TMC was the cornerstone of the TMC strategy to build an innovation platform for the entire medical center. — WILLIAM F. McKEON Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy and Operating Officer of the Texas Medical Center located next door to the tmcx acceler ator The JL A BS @TMC facility is

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