Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that New York will establish a cutting-edge Cell and Gene Therapy Innovation Hub in Nassau County, Long Island and an associated incubator to catalyze cell therapy research, development, clinical manufacturing and commercialization across the State. Cell and Gene Therapy is one of the fastest growing fields in life science and holds the potential to radically alter the treatment of cancer and other serious diseases and could lead to cures that have shown great promise in alleviating the underlying cause of genetic diseases. The Hub will bring to New York the newest and most advanced technologies for the development and commercialization of these groundbreaking new therapies.  

“This Long Island hub will help to expand New York’s footprint in Cell and Gene Therapy, a growing new field of medicine that is paving the way for transformative, life-saving treatments,” Governor Hochul said. “From Lake Success to Lake Erie, New York is continuing to drive innovation in the life sciences to create good-paying jobs, improve the lives of countless New Yorkers, and bring the future of medicine to our state.”

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “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. 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.”

Empire State Development has issued a Request for Proposals seeking developers to build and operate this facility, at approximately 200,000 square feet, with opportunity for future expansion on the 15-acre site where the Hub will be situated. 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. 

In addition to advancing the development of cell and gene therapies, the Hub will create unmatched economic development opportunities that include the creation of startup businesses, attraction of companies from outside of New York, talent and job growth, and cluster development.  

The Hub will house leading providers of services and technologies required by Cell and Gene Therapy developers who will create and bring to market these treatments. The Hub will ultimately enable these treatments to reach more patients, more quickly. Additionally, the Long Island Hub will include a dedicated business incubation space to further enhance the facility’s success by supporting early-stage therapeutic developers translating scientific discovery to phase 1 clinical trials. The incubator will assist promising early-stage businesses in this field by offering use of the facility and its services such as networking and mentorship and fostering connections with venture capital firms and other investors. 

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. 

The Center is also in close proximity to New York City, especially the Borough of Queens, which is a highly diverse area where 150 languages are spoken. Long Island offers unparalleled access to a uniquely diverse population to participate in clinical trials. Diversity of trial participants is critically important to ensure appropriate evaluation of a treatment such as Cell and Gene Therapy, which is personalized to individuals, or specific groups of individuals.  

New York is uniquely positioned to help develop cell and gene therapies, which attacks diseases like cancer by manufacturing reprogrammed patient cells to either repair those that cause disease or kill tumors. The State currently ranks in the top three for National Institutes of Health grants, number of patents, and number of Cell and Gene Therapy clinical trials. It stands to reap enormous benefits by focusing on Cell and Gene Therapy development. 

Governor 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. 

Empire State Development Board Chairman Kevin Law said, “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. This historic investment will push the boundaries of what is possible, bridging innovation and impact to create jobs and deliver life-saving therapies.” 

Northwell Health President and CEO, Michael Dowling said, “We are excited to support and be part of Governor Hochul’s vision to make Long Island and New York a leading center for cell and gene therapy and are thrilled that Northwell has played a role in bringing this state-of-the-art facility to Long Island. This cutting-edge hub will be a game changer for cancer researchers, innovative companies, clinicians, and patients and will foster collaboration and advance commercialization of new cell and gene therapies.  We look forward to the positive impact it will have across Long Island, New York State, and beyond.”

The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy Chief Scientific Officer John Connolly, PhD said, “Governor Hochul and New York State have made a remarkable investment in the future of Cell and Gene therapy that will surely spur the development of new therapies and the growth of many new and important companies.  By accelerating CGT therapies, this next generation hub on Long Island will have a dramatic impact on patient outcomes not only in New York, but globally.” 

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory President and CEO Bruce Stillman, PhD said, “The New York State cell and gene therapy initiative on Long Island will be a most welcome addition to the region’s biomedical research enterprise, and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory looks forward to partnering with the CGT initiative. We thank Governor Hochul and Empire State Development for pioneering this exciting research expansion.” 

Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine Meyer Director Jedd D. Wolchok, MD, PhD said, “We are grateful that Governor Hochul and the state are investing in a hub that will catalyze CGT research, development, clinical manufacturing and commercialization in New York. At our center, we are at the forefront of CGT research and making groundbreaking discoveries that further our understanding of the molecular events that cause cancer. We look forward to this partnership that will lead to more approaches to prevent, treat and cure cancer.” 

Columbia University Irving Medical Center CEO Katrina Armstrong, MD said, “Governor Hochul is to be commended for advancing the potential of cell and gene therapy and for committing the resources needed to make New York a leader in this field. We embrace the opportunity to join together with the state’s outstanding academic medical centers and to develop these treatments holding such great promise for patients with a variety of illnesses.” 

Assemblymember Gina Sillitti said, “Long Island has become a leader in research and innovation and this is another significant state investment right here in my district. The $150 million in grant funding will bring with it good jobs that will also directly benefit our local economy. Thank you Governor Hochul for once again choosing Long Island for this critical funding.”

The establishment of the Long Island Cell and Gene are part of New York State's $620 million Life Science Initiative, designed to spur the 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. This multi-faceted initiative includes $320 million for strategic programs that attract new life science technologies to the state, promote critical public and private sector investment in emerging life science fields and create and expand life science-related businesses and employment throughout New York. Read New York State’s Life Science Initiative Strategic Plan here.