SAN DIEGO—The partnership that BioMed Realty has forged with the University of California San Diego to develop a Center for Novel Therapeutics will position the new facility as a global epicenter of university research, private companies and government entities, BioMed's senior director of leasing and San Diego market lead Kevin Tremblay tells GlobeSt.com. Earlier this month, the firm, a Blackstone Real Estate company, and UCSD announced the project, which will be home to university and local research organizations focused on finding critical treatments and potential cures for cancer and other chronic diseases.

The new building will be centered in the university's Science Research Park adjacent to Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health. The 110,000-square-foot research hub will leverage the strength of the University's world-renowned doctors and research at Moores Cancer Center with private-sector companies looking to translate research into helping patients throughout the world. UCSD will be the anchor tenant.

We spoke with Tremblay about the project, how it is unique to San Diego and how he envisions the final product.

GlobeSt.com: Why is this particular project important for San Diego?

Tremblay: The partnership that we have forged with UC San Diego will position the Center for Novel Therapeutics as a global epicenter of university research, private companies, and government entities. The new building in the heart of UC San Diego's Science Research Park continues the successful model of academic-industry partnerships in San Diego. As a San Diego-based life-science real estate company, BioMed understand San Diego's pivotal role in healthcare innovation and commercialization, and we are investing in this project to support the University in its goal of finding new cures, creating new medicine and eradicating disease.

GlobeSt.com: How does it play to San Diego's strengths?

Tremblay: San Diego is a world-class life-science community because it is home to a highly skilled workforce, premier academic and research institutions and, most importantly, a healthy portfolio of strong commercial life-science companies. The Center for Novel Therapeutics puts all of these strengths into one research facility, anchored by UC San Diego, that will be the hub of collaboration for researchers from academia and the private sector to advance and commercialize transformational research and groundbreaking science.

GlobeSt.com: How do you envision the finished project to look and function?

Tremblay: While the Center for Novel Therapeutics will be home to UCSD-based initiatives, 75% of the building is available to bring San Diego's larger life-science community to the campus. BioMed Realty is committed to constructing a building that will provide a work, live and play environment supported by a full range of amenities such as a state-of-the-art conference center and auditorium, modern fitness center and café. It will be a destination for researchers and business to gather, meet and collaborate.

GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers know about today's life-science research buildings?

Tremblay: The life cycle of a biotech company is filled with constant change, which has an impact on its facility needs and can be costly. At BioMed, we focus on providing solutions that enable flexibility and adaptability, while also delivering the collaborative and highly amenitized work space companies now require. The Center for Novel Therapeutics is conceived and designed to be part of this campus-like environment, which is now the standard design, in order to offer scientists and executives professional and social interaction as an integral part of their work environment, with the opportunity to network, eat and exercise without spending hours commuting.

We spoke with Tremblay about the project, how it is unique to San Diego and how he envisions the final product.

GlobeSt.com: Why is this particular project important for San Diego?

GlobeSt.com: How does it play to San Diego's strengths?

GlobeSt.com: How do you envision the finished project to look and function?

GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers know about today's life-science research buildings?

Instant Insights /

SD Levels Up With Center for Novel Therapeutics

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