BioCentury
ARTICLE | Strategy

The Philadelphia story

TJU targets innovation, industry partnership

August 27, 2015 7:00 AM UTC

Facing the headwinds of reduced funding from traditional sources, Thomas Jefferson University is restructuring to position itself as a local facilitator of innovation and industry partnership by slashing red tape and connecting to other institutions in Philadelphia.

The changes are emblematic of shifting ground in Philadelphia's healthcare ecosystem, with potential ramifications for academic institutions seeking to strengthen ties to industry. This year, a group of academic institutions and companies - including Jefferson, Drexel University, University of Pennsylvania, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Independence Blue Cross (IBX), Comcast Corp., and the venture firms Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania and Safeguard Scientifics Inc. - formed the Health Care Innovation Collaborative through the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce...