Empire State Development has issued a Request for Proposals seeking developers to build and operate a 200,000 sq. ft. cell and gene therapy innovation hub, with potential for future expansion on the 15-acre site in Nassau County.
ESD will invest up to $150 million toward development of this facility, and this funding may be complemented by additional financial support from other economic development programs.
More information, including site visit dates, is available in the RFP, and the deadline for submissions is March 12, 2024.
“The Long Island Hub is pivotal to our efforts to expand our statewide Cell and Gene Therapy ecosystem and facilitate collaboration across our great research universities and the private sector,” said Empire State Development president, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight. “This new Hub will be unmatched in capability and economic potential and will establish New York State as the leading center for Cell and Gene Therapy research, development and patient care in the nation.”
In addition to advancing the development of cell and gene therapies, the hub is expected to spur the creation of startup businesses, attraction of companies from outside of New York, talent and job growth, and cluster development.
The Long Island Cell and Gene Therapy Hub, to be located on approximately 15 acres in the village of Lake Success, with close proximity to Northwell Health, the largest health system in the State, and in close proximity to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and several other world class research institutions in the New York metropolitan region.
Gov. Hochul announced the creation of two Cell and Gene Therapy hubs – one upstate and one downstate – in her 2023 State of the State address as part of her continued effort to support growth and innovation in New York State. Each center will co-locate vital infrastructure, technology and services to ensure that New York has both the talent and structure required to lead in this field.
“With the establishment of the Long Island Cell and Gene Therapy Innovation Hub, New York State will bring together research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization under one roof and strengthen Long Island’s role as a global leader in the life sciences,” said Empire State Development Board Chairman Kevin Law. “This historic investment will push the boundaries of what is possible, bridging innovation and impact to create jobs and deliver life-saving therapies.”
The project is part of New York State’s $620 million Life Science Initiative, designed to growth of a world-class life science research cluster in New York, as well as expand the state’s ability to commercialize this research and grow the economy.
