Loyola University Chicago joins new biopharma hub funded by the National Institute of Health

Partnership to help deliver innovative treatments and technologies to patients faster

Loyola University Chicago is one of nine Chicagoland academic institutions partnering with 27 industry, venture capital, and community organizations to form the Chicago Biomedical Consortium Hub for Innovative Technology and Entrepreneurship in the Sciences (CBC-HITES). The new collaboration empowers Chicago’s academic inventors to partner with biopharma leaders and transform their research into commercial products.

The CBC-HITES is one of 13 hubs now part of the National Institute of Health’s Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hubs (REACH). It is funded by a $10.4 million investment which includes $6 million in support from the Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust, a $4 million NIH grant, and $400,000 by the Walder Foundation.

“It is an honor for Loyola to be part of the Chicago REACH award,” said Elaine Morrato, DrPH, MPH, founding dean of the Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health at Loyola University Chicago. “Many will benefit from the hub, which promises to spark novel research projects, propel the creation of life-altering medical treatments, and amplify Loyola's impact as a driver of innovation and improved human health."

CBC-HITES leverages talent, methodologies, networks, and infrastructure developed by the Chicago Biomedical Consortium (CBC). The hub will provide expertise and funding to advance the discoveries of medical scientists from Loyola University Chicago and various Chicago area peers, including: Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois Chicago, Discovery Partners Institute, Illinois Institute of Technology, Northern Illinois University, Rosalind Franklin University, and Rush University.

“I am very excited about Loyola’s membership in the new hub,” said Meharvan Singh, PhD, vice provost for research at Loyola University Chicago. “The REACH program offers the promise of helping fundamental discoveries get translated to those solutions that solve the complex, contemporary challenges that plague our society.”