TMC PULSE

t m c » p u l s e | m a y 2 0 1 8 14 A NEW ERA: LAUNCHING TMC 3 C ity, state and Texas Medical Center (TMC) leaders con- vened April 23 to announce the creation of TMC 3 , a new, multi- institutional translational research campus slated to break ground next year, with projected completion in 2022. The ambitious project will bring together the best institutions and brightest minds in clinical care, research and industry. TMC 3 will drive $5.2 billion into the Houston economy and create nearly 30,000 jobs, according to a third-party impact study by Silverlode Consulting. Named to identify Houston as the "third coast" for life sciences, the translational research campus is a collaboration between the five founding TMC 3 institutions: Texas Medical Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. "The new 30-acre research campus will provide our top medical minds with the resources to remain at the forefront of the health care industry," Gov. Greg Abbott said ahead of the announcement. "This cutting-edge facility will not only generate thousands of jobs, but it will solidify Texas' position as an international leader in biomedical research." Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said TMC 3 will show everyone that Houston means business. "This is an indication to the rest of the world that in this city, we have decided to come together and play," Turner said at the press event. "And when we play, we play well, even in the post-Harvey era." The double helix Four years ago, for the first time since the Texas Medical Center was chartered in 1945, leaders from the TMC and its member institutions formed a strategic plan that would set the course of the world's largest medical city for decades to come. They identified six key areas of collaboration that would add value to each individual institution while helping the medical city as a whole compete on a global scale: innovation, health policy, clinical research, regenerative medicine, genomics and a city center for translational research. But prior to the strategic plan, TMC executives were brainstorm- ing ways to foster collaboration in research and attract bioscience industry to Houston. William F. McKeon, President and CEO of the Texas Medical Center, recalled an early meeting he'd set with the Houston office of Gensler, an international design and architec- ture firm that designed the initial concepts of the new campus. "I remember saying, 'Look, we have no money set aside for this, but we have this concept, and I want to create a sketch that reflects this idea of a truly innovative campus that is fostering collision and collaboration," McKeon said. An intern began to sketch and McKeon looked over his shoulder, watching him draw paths between four main buildings, crisscross- ing and intersecting to promote meet-ups and conversations. For McKeon's vision to be fully realized, the design had to encourage this type of interaction. William F. McKeon, president and CEO of the Texas Medical Center, announces plans for the TMC 3 campus with, left to right: Edward Roski, president and chairman of the board for Majestic Realty Co.; Ed Emmett, Harris County Judge; Sylvester Turner, Mayor of Houston; Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas; Paul Klotman, M.D., president, CEO and executive dean at Baylor College of Medicine; John Sharp, chancellor of The Texas A&M University System; Carrie Byington, M.D., senior vice president of The Texas A&M University Health Science Center and vice chancellor for health services at The Texas A&M University System; Admiral William McRaven, chancellor of The University of Texas System; Peter Pisters, M.D., president of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; and Michael R. Blackburn, Ph.D., executive vice president and chief academic officer at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. By Alexandra Becker

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