Issue link: https://tmcpulse.uberflip.com/i/646815
t m c » p u l s e | m a r c h 2 0 1 6 17 "Very importantly, we also offer access to a medical device prototyping lab," she contin- ued. "We're the first JLABS site to incorporate that feature, although once we open our site in Toronto, it will be available there, too. That's a unique opportunity to capitalize on, especially since Houston is very solid in the area of medi- cal devices." If the impressive facilities and equipment, neatly delineated between public and private spaces, aren't enticing enough, JLABS also employs a full-time operations team for the benefit of its companies, as well as an on-site business services team. Educationally, Johnson & Johnson Innovation draws from a rich network of experts, helping startups avoid common pitfalls and problems that frequently slow down progress. "Something that I feel quite passionate about is that, occasionally, I've seen a bottleneck in that translation from discovery to product," Schuler said. "At a very early stage, that transi- tion depends on how to effectively tell the story of your science. That story might take the form of a device; it might be a drug; it might be a drug delivery system. How do you communicate the value of that research and discovery to an investor or to a possible partner of choice? It's not easy, and it requires a different language to communicate that knowledge." One example of their robust, year-round programming is the JLABS "Sell Your Science" series, which provides bi-weekly sessions for scientists seeking to convey the full potential of their discoveries—all without spilling their secrets. Ideal for inventors who are steeped in jargon at academic institutions and hospitals, it enables them to learn how to craft a compel- ling narrative straight from the mouths of their target audience: the investors. "We also bring potential partners on site here and companies have the opportunity to meet with them on a one-on-one basis," said Schuler. "Through that, we create this very high-level, meaningful connection and provide that level of networking to the community. We want people to see that when they come to JLABS, they come to a special place where the expectation is that something is going to happen." For Richter, that expectation of greatness is palpable the instant you step foot in the front door, manifested in the aesthetics of the facility. Located mere minutes away from the medical center, a "sparkle of boldness and newness" sets JLABS @TMC apart from the other JLABS sites. "Walking into this facility will make you smile, by virtue of the design itself," Richter said. "Imagine what can happen at a place like This is how you build a critical mass. 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. — EMMANUELLE SCHULER Head of JLABS @TMC (Credit: Gensler) that, where the talent that goes inside is inspired right from the beginning. Without even trying, it creates an environment where people imagine they can do the impossible." "The concept for the space itself was 'Beyond Science,'" added Lisa Pope-Westerman, design director and principal at Gensler, who worked with Johnson & Johnson Innovation to design the facility. "JLABS' intention is to foster an environment that integrates science and com- munity. Our approach was to create an exciting and dynamic space that would promote interac- tion between the researchers at JLABS, as well as provide a social gathering space to host many kinds of outside guests." Those communal spaces will prove crucial in the coming months. JLABS provides not only an internal community of like-minded individuals who all thrive on the same entre- preneurial spirit, but its resident companies are immersed in a vibrant local ecosystem of therapeutic area experts, venture capitalists and potential partners.