New York life science professionals have long pounded the tables in disgust at the Big Apple’s inability to capitalize on its institutional research: too often, the scientific ideas generated in Manhattan research labs and medical centers get shipped off to other, more established biotech hubs like Boston, San Francisco, and San Diego.
As I wrote last week, the New York Genome Center is the city’s latest step in trying to change this trend. The NYGC is a collaborative effort between 12 of the metropolitan area’s biggest research centers to work together, share research, and make sense of the flood of genomic data the explosion of new technology in the field has made it possible to study. But while other genome centers already sequence genomic data, the NYGC has loftier goals: it aims to also perform clinical studies on its grounds, and generate translational research that ultimately leads to new innovations.
I attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony in person on Thursday, and got a tour of the 170,000 square foot facility. Above you’ll find some of the things I found along the way.