Five Akron-area institutions have joined forces --and 80 million dollars in funds-- to create a center that aims to create biomaterials and medical technologies that will improve people's health and save lives. Gretchen Cuda reports.
The new center is being called the BioInnovation Institute, and is a joint venture of three Akron-area hospitals, the University of Akron, and Northeast Ohio Universities College of Medicine. It will focus on creating biomaterials for medical use, such as artificial bone for joint replacement and tissue for wound healing. Baiju Shah of Bioenterprise, which promotes investment in NE Ohio's biomedical industry, expects that the money will allow the institute to attract some of the world's top researchers in a very short time.
SHAH: In five years we expect that this innovation institute will be the worlds leading center for biomaterials in medicine research and commercialization.
An ambitious goal admits Shah, but one he thinks is entirely realizable given Akron's existing strength in the biomaterials field - as well as one that will reap benefits for more than the immediate community.
SHAH: Having Akron as a community leverage its unique strengths within the region in the materials science towards the marketplace of healthcare is going to have broad benefits for all of NE Ohio not just for the akron area.