Pennsylvania, Delaware, And New Jersey Collaborate To Develop Precision Medicine Powerhouse In Greater Philadelphia Region

Contact:
Calan Wilson, Ben Franklin
calan.wilson@sep,benfranklin.org

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (April 11, 2024)—The Greater Philadelphia Region Precision Medicine Tech Hub, a coalition of more than 100 total organizations and community partners from Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey have combined their efforts to submit the Phase II response to its US EDA Tech Hub designation. The $80M five-year proposal supports the creation of PROPEL: The National Center for Precision Medicine, an initiative focused on accelerating the Greater Philadelphia region’s growth of its industry and discoveries within precision medicine. The effort is being led by Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Designed as a public/private partnership focused on precision medicine and life sciences, PROPEL will work to elevate the profile and activity of well-respected life science assets, while increasing equitable access to care and careers for the region and beyond. PROPEL will be developing a replicable model of economic growth and prosperity for other cities and regions throughout the US. With $9 million in current matching capital commitments made by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the City of Philadelphia, the State of Delaware, and various private funders, the initiative’s success relies on collaboration of its member organizations.

“The centralized hub-based talent center would support the development of a skilled workforce to fill positions in manufacturing, clinical trial support, public health, and laboratory operations, improving access to new opportunities for local workers and helping the region retain and attract talent,” said U.S. Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania. “Investments in the Hub made possible by a Phase II award would help build a globally competitive R&D network generating good jobs in biotechnology, research, and data science while investing in our national security by preparing our institutions for future public health emergencies.”

“The Greater Philadelphia Region is already the nation’s sixth largest life science market and has world renowned academic institutions such as the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University, as well as the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL),” said U.S. Senator John Fetterman (PA). “Phase II Tech Hub investments would help the Greater Philadelphia Region realize its full potential to become a world leader in precision medicine. This investment would be a game changer in the region. I’m proud to be fighting for these funds.”

With its structure to develop the “living laboratory” for precision medicine throughout Greater Philadelphia, PROPEL incorporates research institutions, economic development, workforce and industry organizations , community colleges and HBCUs, medical systems, and city, county and state governments; each aligned with and integrated into at least one of its core projects:

1. Governance (Ben Franklin lead): Organizes, engages, and integrates members; executes hub’s mission and vision, and fosters community culture.
2. Workforce (Philadelphia Works & Tech Council of Delaware leads): Expands or creates programs for a diverse, technically trained workforce; connects with K-12 schools, community colleges, regional HBCUs, and underemployed citizens for careers in the life sciences and precision medicine; partners with other workforce programs and labor unions.
3. Entrepreneurship (Ben Franklin & Delaware Innovation Space leads): Increases efficiency for commercialization of new technologies through access to specialized resources, and access to support resources for current and potential founders and entrepreneurs.
4. Biomanufacturing (University of Delaware/NIIMBL lead): Improves capacity to train diverse biomanufacturing workforce (aligning with Workforce project); advances technologies and processes to improve speed to market in the sector.
5. Access (HealthShare Exchange, Drexel University, & Virtua Health leads): Accelerates the development, testing and commercialization of precision medicines; addresses inefficiencies and inequities in research; prepares our region for future public health emergencies; grows and retains jobs in data science, health research and artificial intelligence.

“EDA funding would enable the region’s research institutions and precision medicine companies to advance their technologies to commercialization,” said U.S. Senator Tom Carper (DE). “The success of the Hub will position our region and state as a global innovation leader, foster synergy among the region’s partners, promote onshore advanced manufacturing, support national security and economic competitiveness, and ensure equitable health and economic outcomes for our most underserved communities.”

“Delaware is leading the way in biotech and advanced manufacturing endeavors thanks to NIIMBL at the University of Delaware and sites like The Innovation Space, which have allowed startups and entrepreneurs to get their footing and expand their operations while providing cutting-edge support,” said U.S. Senator Chris Coons (DE). “Having designated the region as a Technology and Innovation Hub, I strongly urge the EDA to provide funding to further strengthen Delaware’s technology and innovation ecosystem, which will support our state’s leadership in areas ranging from advanced manufacturing to medicines that are adopted save lives across the country and the world.”

While ideas and products are created in labs and companies, PROPEL is built to maximize the growth and wellbeing for the entire community of people that make it happen.  The proposed tech hub integrates the collective experience of all its partners to show how this community of innovation.

“The Tech Hub will work with existing accelerator and mentorship programs to cultivate precision medicine companies and create a network of service providers to stimulate innovation throughout the region,” said U.S. Representative Donald Norcross (NJ-1). “Through these efforts, the Tech Hub also addresses the workforce shortage being faced in the critical fields of precision medicine and life sciences by creating a centralized talent center that will be responsible for developing a multidisciplinary workforce with the ability to fill positions across manufacturing, clinical trial support, public health, and laboratory operations. This Tech Hub will aim to build a well-supported and well-educated workforce with good-paying jobs throughout the region, including for New Jersey’s First Congressional District.”

“Delaware and the Greater Philadelphia Region have long been leaders in research and development, manufacturing, and innovation – roles solidified by our designation as a Regional Technology and Innovation Tech Hub,” said Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.). “The designation underscored just how critical the region is in building a powerful economy consisting of effective partnerships, advancing innovative technologies in precision medicine, and building a skilled workforce. I look forward to keeping the momentum going so that Delaware and the region can reach its full technological, innovative, and economic potential through this incredible partnership.”

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ABOUT BEN FRANKLIN TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS OF SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA 

Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania (“Ben Franklin”) is the Philadelphia region’s Partners with a Purpose. Nationally ranked among the most active seed and early-stage investors, Ben Franklin helps high-growth innovative enterprises plant and nurture their roots, creating both immediate connections and lasting economic growth. The nonprofit has supported more than 2,000 companies to deliver an impact of more than $5 billion and 32,000 jobs in the Philadelphia region. Whether in tech, life sciences, manufacturing, or industries and breakthroughs yet discovered, Ben Franklin works to raise the community of innovation higher, to benefit present and future generations of Pennsylvanians. Visit us at www.partnerswithapurpose.org, or follow us at @bftp_sep.

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