Latest / Becker’s Healthcare Digital Health + Health IT / Insights into The Cleveland Innovation District with Kip Lee, Brian Kovach & Joseph Rich

Transcript

Insights into The Cleveland Innovation District with Kip Lee, Brian Kovach & Joseph Rich · Becker’s Healthcare Digital Health + Health IT

0:00
This is Laura D with the Becker Healthcare
0:02
care podcast.
0:03
I'm thrilled today to be joined by Kip
0:05
the, Vice President of Innovation and product. Strategy
0:07
at University Hospitals,
0:09
Brian Ko, Vice President of the Cancer Institute
0:12
of Metro health and Joe Reich, senior new
0:15
director of Cleveland Clinic innovations.
0:17
Today, we'll be talking about the Cleveland Innovation
0:19
district and some of the fascinating things that
0:22
the
0:23
members on the line, I have here today,
0:25
are I've been doing on the Cleveland Innovation
0:26
district as well as what's ahead. So,
0:29
without further
0:30
a do. I wanted to jump in this
0:32
conversation because we have a lot of ground
0:33
to cover, and I'm excited to learn. First
0:36
and foremost, I was wondering, Kip, could you
0:38
tell us a little bit about some of
0:39
the themes of focus for the Cleveland Innovation
0:42
district, What's top of mind for you right
0:44
now?
0:46
Yeah. Thank you, Laura. We're very excited to
0:49
feature some of the things we've been working
0:50
on.
0:51
Life sciences focused on gene and cell therapy
0:54
is certainly 1 of the themes and
0:57
appropriate for the northeast to ohio region as
0:59
that's 1 of our strengths.
1:01
Product innovation, when it comes to healthcare as
1:04
3 of the 5 institutions
1:06
that make up the Cleveland innovation district are
1:09
health systems.
1:10
And there's tremendous amount of product
1:13
innovation that occurs
1:15
in through and with,
1:17
our various health systems as well as the
1:20
academic to academic institutions as well,
1:23
I would say
1:24
data sharing and, ways to potentially commercial
1:28
how we use data as the the new
1:32
gold in some ways, that is so
1:35
important for the region. And other things I
1:38
might include our
1:39
thinking about the collective as a living laboratory
1:43
as we have many things to offer if
1:45
we're united.
1:47
And
1:48
doing some c design
1:50
across our institutions as well as some of
1:53
the things that we're looking to do aren't
1:55
quite in the world yet And how do
1:57
we shape things together
1:59
through our collective
2:01
collaboration?
2:03
That's fascinating to hear. And, you know, really
2:06
truly, it seems like an amazing partnership that
2:08
you've been able to have and come together
2:11
in order to,
2:13
really make a difference in Cleveland.
2:15
I was wondering, how do we know that
2:17
things will succeed under the banner of Cleveland
2:20
Innovation district?
2:23
The Cleveland
2:24
innovation district has already demonstrated significant success by
2:28
surpassing many of the initial targets that we
2:30
set for the anchor institutions.
2:33
Today, we've documented that over 2600 jobs have
2:37
have been created
2:39
nearly 1200000000.0
2:41
dollars has already been invested in research and
2:43
innovation
2:44
in the district.
2:46
And I think we've advanced more than 7300
2:49
degrees in certificates.
2:51
I have all awarded throughout the Northeastern Ohio
2:53
region.
2:55
I think these use accomplishments indicate a robust
2:57
foundation for continued growth in the innovation district.
3:01
Furthermore, I think the strong collaboration amongst the
3:05
district's districts anchor partners,
3:08
combined with all the backing that we have
3:10
from the anchor institutions.
3:12
And we really have a clear strategic vision
3:15
that that positions Cleveland an innovation district ongoing
3:18
success.
3:20
I think some of the areas that we
3:21
are working to advance our workforce development,
3:24
especially around enhancing stem education
3:28
and training to meet the needs of the
3:29
life science industry,
3:32
lots of collaboration amongst our our anchor partners
3:34
as well as bringing in new partners into
3:36
the
3:37
animation district,
3:38
both enhancing what we have in our academic
3:41
institutions as well as our healthcare care providers
3:43
and then really bringing in those industry leaders
3:45
to
3:46
to say how do we grow the innovation
3:48
district,
3:49
which really leads to the ultimate economic growth
3:52
and and how we create jobs and foster
3:54
economic development in Northeast Ohio. I think we
3:56
have lots of really great ways that we
3:59
are succeeding and continue to
4:01
succeed as the cleveland Innovation district.
4:05
Well, that's great to hear. You know, and
4:07
definitely impressive to see some of the results
4:09
that have come out of the innovation district
4:11
already.
4:12
Now I was wondering,
4:14
Joe, the publicly available outcomes report is impressive,
4:17
but we wanna hear a little bit more
4:18
about the process.
4:20
How has all of this been made possible?
4:22
Have there been any challenges?
4:26
Thank you, Laura. And this is really
4:29
an exciting opportunity for the Cleveland
4:33
institutions that are the the founding members innovation
4:35
district to come together and to work together
4:39
because 1 might think that, you know, as
4:41
as we have 3 health systems involved in
4:44
innovation district that that we're competitive and while,
4:46
maybe we compete for patients on 1 hand,
4:50
in the areas of
4:52
research and
4:54
economic development
4:56
and innovation.
4:57
We're not competitors. We're we're really partners. We
5:00
you have a vested success in the growth
5:04
and success of our region. And it's been
5:07
really exciting working together with kip and Brian
5:11
and others from all the institutions
5:14
on opportunities where we can collaborate,
5:17
whether that be
5:19
as we've mentioned already,
5:21
the training programs through either
5:24
degrees or certificates
5:26
that are creating the workforce of today or
5:31
and tomorrow, and and really, even getting ready
5:34
for those job that we don't know about
5:36
yet that we're going to need
5:38
as technology and innovation continues. And this is
5:42
really
5:43
positioning Cleveland to be
5:46
the forefront fronts
5:47
and continue our our leadership as as a
5:50
health
5:51
innovation engine.
5:53
Yeah. The
5:55
what's been
5:56
challenging at times is to
5:59
be a a bit bolder and have the
6:02
permission
6:03
that we, kinda give to each other as
6:05
well as working with Jobs Ohio in the
6:08
State of Ohio
6:09
to use this,
6:11
platform,
6:12
this construct is an opportunity to really be
6:15
audacious and also
6:18
vulnerable
6:19
as we,
6:20
in many ways, you know, come into a
6:23
room together,
6:24
and admit where there might be gaps in,
6:27
our
6:28
capabilities,
6:29
but the idea of complementing each other,
6:32
so that we're not all claiming to have
6:35
the same strengths.
6:36
But together,
6:38
where, you know, if there might be gaps
6:39
at University hospitals that can be filled
6:43
with,
6:44
metro health
6:45
strengths or the Cleveland clinics
6:48
capabilities, while we can then go together as
6:51
a United front to
6:53
other companies, other places to say come work
6:56
with us and
6:58
making 1 plus 1 equal, you know, 3
7:00
or more
7:02
has been kind of the mantra of the
7:04
group
7:05
so that we can
7:06
present ourselves as as 1,
7:09
1 entity
7:10
in reaching out and also doing things locally.
7:15
That's a really cool model to have an
7:17
ne know impressive to see how you've over
7:19
comes from of those challenges and in spaces
7:21
where
7:22
each system competes to come together and have
7:25
that
7:26
idea of research and innovation be front and
7:29
center with patient access and outcomes, Of course,
7:32
you you know, something to align around Now
7:36
kip Was wondering if you could talk about
7:37
as well. What are some of the goals
7:39
outside of these accomplishments today?
7:43
I think it's a lot of a and
7:44
I'm curious to hear from Brian and Joe
7:46
as well. We've got the things that we
7:50
articulated
7:51
upfront saying these are our objectives and goals
7:53
in terms of job creation
7:55
in terms of different business development opportunities. We're
7:58
hoping some of the cultural
8:01
soft elements of working together can also
8:05
be a product or byproduct of this effort,
8:08
for example, to
8:09
really highlight Cleveland as a
8:12
place making
8:13
region so that not only our company interested
8:16
in coming, to work with us to Dom
8:19
here, but move their families
8:21
and 1 to really take root here. I
8:25
think that would be the ultimate
8:28
when
8:29
that is complementary
8:31
to the the hard kind of metrics that
8:33
we've set out for ourselves. So
8:36
you know, we've got in Cleveland, for example,
8:38
the cultural gardens that celebrate a diversity of
8:41
different ethnic backgrounds as you're driving
8:43
down
8:44
that road you can see just the different
8:47
representations of different
8:50
populations, cultures.
8:51
How might we think about that as a
8:53
model
8:54
for Cleveland innovation district,
8:56
so that even beyond the 5 institutions that
8:59
were formally
9:01
awarded in 20 21,
9:03
but the state of Ohio to really catalyze
9:06
innovation. How might we begin to pull other
9:09
institutions,
9:10
other strengths that we have in the region
9:12
so that
9:13
it's beyond even just the 5
9:16
starter
9:17
institutions, and it can grow into something more.
9:21
I agree a lot with what Kip said.
9:23
I think a lot of what the innovation
9:26
district hopes to achieve is to really foster
9:30
integral a lot of collaboration within the innovation
9:33
district. Right? We mentioned the 5 anchor institutions,
9:36
but we know that the innovation district is
9:38
only going to be successful if we scale
9:41
and expand well beyond the 5 anchor institutions,
9:44
right? The 5 anchor institutions are here to
9:46
kind of be the foothold
9:48
But our
9:50
real objective and real aim is to aspire
9:53
to be an engine for the region that
9:56
can really propel
9:57
and attract global talent,
10:00
attract
10:02
new novel research, expand our capabilities and research
10:05
and development
10:07
support startups ups of all, shapes sizes and
10:10
scales, right? Bb that engine for diversity
10:13
and startups and then really
10:16
look at how we impact the the community
10:18
overall from from community health, I. E. We
10:20
have the 3 health, anchor institutions on here
10:22
to
10:24
academics and education.
10:25
And really how we foster very innovative, healthy
10:29
community partnership model.
10:32
That's amazing to hear. And definitely, it just
10:35
really cool to
10:36
think about all the possibilities and the potential
10:39
when you're working together,
10:40
in pooling all of your resources.
10:43
Now
10:44
I think the next thing I wanna know,
10:45
Brian, are there things that you've done specifically
10:48
in order to advance innovation in Northeast Ohio?
10:52
How is the in Cleveland innovation district really
10:55
made an impact on innovation
10:57
overall?
10:59
Yes. And I'll speak to some of Metro
11:02
health accomplishments and investments and I'll invite Kip
11:05
and Joe to speak to their respective organizations
11:08
as well.
11:09
But 1 thing here at Metro health that
11:11
we've been laser focused on and been working
11:13
on for a couple of years now is
11:15
we launched the region's first vector production facility,
11:20
really focused on leading innovations in cellular immunotherapy
11:23
manufacturing.
11:25
This is a novel type
11:28
good manufacturing practice facility.
11:32
That is laser focused on how do we
11:34
advance new drug development in research, specifically in
11:37
the cellular immunotherapy space, which just geared a
11:40
lot towards cancer,
11:41
but has many applications beyond cancer.
11:46
We see this this investment both in the
11:48
facility as well as the research team that
11:50
we have grown around it as being
11:53
for advancing some of our key initiatives within
11:55
innovation district,
11:56
but we also see it as a lin
11:58
pen
11:59
for attracting additional talent.
12:01
Allowing for ancillary investments around it
12:04
and saying, how do we grow the overall
12:06
ecosystem. Right? We have 1 facility that is
12:08
very now unique to to Cleveland and in
12:12
our region.
12:13
But we know that that that isn't the
12:15
the means to end. That is just a
12:17
building block.
12:18
Part of the foundation of what we hope
12:19
to be
12:21
a greater ecosystem around
12:23
cell gene therapy and regenerative medicine.
12:26
And really how we partner with the other
12:28
institutions to continue to grow that and find
12:30
investments in that space. And I know Kip
12:32
and Joe will have a lot that they
12:34
can add on that. So I'll invite them
12:36
to add in their third pieces.
12:39
Thanks, Brian. Cleveland clinic
12:41
focus of the innovation district has really been
12:44
the launch and growth of our global center
12:47
for pathogen
12:48
and human health research. And and really that
12:51
encompasses
12:52
put all research in in the health care
12:54
area,
12:55
and we've already
12:57
created 45000
12:59
square feet of modern laboratory space
13:01
that
13:03
encompasses our new center for computational life sciences,
13:06
center for immunotherapy and precision I oncology center.
13:10
And the center for Therapeutics discovery.
13:12
And then we are in the process
13:15
of building 2 new research buildings that will
13:18
have
13:19
over 300000
13:21
square feet and recruiting the new Pis to
13:25
fill those spaces,
13:26
hit in areas that are
13:29
you know, on the front edge of health
13:32
care research. We've also added a a bios
13:34
safety level 3 laboratory,
13:37
and a bio repository.
13:39
And I think 1 of the other things
13:41
that is is really exciting is we
13:45
continue to build this innovation district
13:47
is is helping to
13:50
transform the the landscape of the area
13:53
So we've had the opportunity to partner
13:56
in an investment to create a
13:59
grocery store.
14:00
And apartment complex
14:02
that has helped fill a food desert need
14:06
for our area
14:07
but also really transformed the the the neighborhood
14:11
to be more accessible,
14:13
more walk,
14:14
and there's there's a lot more foot traffic,
14:16
and an excitement going on
14:19
in the area. So it's great to see
14:20
all those
14:22
transformations really in the the E very early
14:25
years of our efforts together.
14:28
These are great. Let me add another dimension.
14:31
In fact, it ties back. I think the
14:34
opening question that you had for us, Laura,
14:37
around what are the themes and I think
14:38
you're seeing, in very concrete ways. Those themes
14:41
being highlighted.
14:43
Terms of cell and gene therapy, the life
14:45
sciences,
14:46
I'll share 1
14:47
tied to data,
14:50
and artificial intelligence in as that's incredibly exciting
14:54
for
14:55
our region and in particular in health care,
14:59
we were able to at university hospitals,
15:03
stand up something called
15:04
the Radiology, Ai and diagnostic
15:07
innovation collaborative.
15:09
We're calling it Rad K. The K is
15:12
for Cleveland.
15:13
And it's really an Ai hub
15:16
as we're seeing other
15:17
cities and regions across the United States,
15:20
also
15:22
building towards something like this, but it's still,
15:24
you know, early on
15:26
for all of us,
15:27
and we set this up
15:30
at U, but with the hope that this
15:32
could be an anchor point for the region.
15:35
For all of us involved at least the
15:37
5
15:38
institutions. And then
15:40
beyond that,
15:41
an outcome of this exciting effort has been
15:44
a French based
15:46
startup company
15:48
reaching out to us saying, hey, can we
15:50
work with your diagnostic
15:52
experts to train
15:54
their fracture
15:55
detection software.
15:57
And our approach has also been let's embrace
16:00
opportunities as opposed to
16:03
Shu
16:04
opportunities tied it to Ai.
16:07
And
16:08
given, it gives us our caregivers a tremendous
16:11
way to
16:12
not only
16:13
share data and share know how, but also
16:16
to be directly involved
16:18
so that they have agency in the effort
16:21
around Ai
16:22
model training and Gen Ai in particular. This
16:26
company was able to get Us Fda clearance
16:29
through the work that we
16:31
did with them, which is
16:33
a nice bonus to the effort. And how
16:35
do we do more of these kind of
16:37
plays as we think about the next company
16:39
that might be knocking on our door or
16:42
that we might pursue together to say, we've
16:44
got data, not just within 1 health system.
16:48
But you know, maybe all 3 of us
16:50
and representing different
16:52
populations
16:54
that could,
16:55
really
16:56
make the training of Ai models,
16:59
which is a really hot topic, more sophisticated
17:01
as well as more representative
17:04
of
17:05
actual
17:06
people in our communities
17:07
and also to involve us as opposed to
17:11
this kind of work being a blunt box.
17:13
So that,
17:14
we're involved and there's that c design
17:18
aspect that was mentioned earlier, and to really
17:21
prop up the region as a living laboratory
17:23
where it's not something that companies
17:27
smaller, large do to us in terms of
17:30
taking advantage of what we have to offer
17:32
collectively, but to really work with us in
17:34
us offering the scene.
17:37
That's great to hear. It sounds like a
17:39
really smart strategy.
17:40
I I appreciate you all diving 1 bit
17:42
deeper there into looking at innovation, how you
17:46
know, you're really making difference.
17:48
Before We I wrap up, I have 1
17:49
more question and, and Joe, I wanted to
17:51
start off with you here. What is yet
17:53
to be done?
17:56
There's a lot of exciting things coming, Laura,
17:58
and I think taking a quick step back
18:01
as a native Cleveland. I I... It's really
18:03
citing to see what we've done so far.
18:05
Kip pointed out the cultural gardens that we
18:09
have in Cleveland.
18:11
1 of the exciting things about Cleveland is
18:14
it has a rich history. It really was
18:16
the Silicon valley of America in the early
18:19
twentieth century. When you look at the standard
18:22
oil company,
18:23
launching here and and all that that has
18:25
happened. And so that's
18:27
led to a history of a really great
18:31
culture that we have in this area. We
18:33
have a wonderful lake front. We have the
18:36
largest theater district outside New York City. We've
18:38
got the best orchestra in the world to
18:41
name a few.
18:42
But what what that means is we have
18:44
an an excellent opportunity for a place where
18:47
people want to
18:49
move to and stay and grow,
18:52
raise their families. And over the past 10
18:54
plus years, I've had the opportunity to be
18:57
focused on creating,
19:00
launching, investing and growing startup companies along with
19:04
venture capital funds. And we've done really
19:08
great effort in doing that so far.
19:10
1 of the keys though to attracting and
19:13
retaining talent, especially in that area is not
19:15
so much what job they're person has today,
19:18
but what are the next job opportunities
19:21
as as technology changes and the market changes
19:24
and people wanting to see
19:27
to know they have a secure opportunity that
19:29
they can spend a career even though that
19:32
career might span multiple companies.
19:34
And so 1 of the things that we're
19:37
continuing to work on is more
19:40
corporate
19:41
opportunities and partnerships
19:43
that will continue to bring more people to
19:46
Cleveland to be part of this ecosystem that
19:49
we're building. Some recent wins are are if
19:52
examples are the the Ibm quantum computer
19:55
that we have at Cleveland clinic. It's the
19:58
first quantum computer focused on healthcare care research.
20:02
We recently announced a,
20:05
research partnership with Canon Medical. And I think
20:08
it's been wonderful working with Kip and Brian
20:10
in our counterparts, and I... Our collective efforts
20:13
together
20:14
will should result in a lot more of
20:17
those opportunities to come that are gonna
20:20
be nice anchors
20:22
around our innovation district opportunities.
20:24
And from the clinic perspective, 1 of our
20:27
main goals was to grow research funding
20:31
at the
20:32
launch of the innovation district,
20:36
opportunity. We had about 300000000 dollars in annual
20:39
research expenditures at Cleveland Clinic.
20:42
Our goal was to grow that to 500000000
20:44
within 10 years and a couple years into
20:47
the this effort we're already over 430000000
20:50
dollars in annual funding. So so that type
20:53
of invest as an example,
20:55
will continue to allow
20:58
the the the cat
21:01
the attraction
21:02
and interaction with with companies that want to
21:05
be part of all the great things.
21:08
That the clinic and Metro and Are doing.
21:11
And and also, we've not focused on, but
21:14
but the great
21:15
universities that we have in the region that
21:18
are helping to fill the talent needs
21:21
of those opportunities, and and they've been wonderful
21:24
cloud creators as we've built the programs,
21:27
as Brian's noted, the the graduates that we've
21:29
had within the last couple years focused on
21:32
the the opportunities that the hospital systems need
21:34
to fill.
21:36
And I completely agree, Joe, I think, leveraging
21:39
in Cleveland deep cultural history
21:42
is still a device that our disposal to
21:45
how do we grow the Cleveland Innovation district.
21:48
Selfish officially 1 of the things I'd love
21:49
to see it done over the next year,
21:51
a few years.
21:52
Is really broadening our impact. Metro health is
21:56
Cleveland safety at hospital where we take care
21:59
of patients from all walks of lives.
22:02
And really what I love to see the
22:03
Cleveland Innovation district
22:05
do is also expand on our initiatives to
22:07
reach more of the underserved communities and address
22:10
social economic disparities. And I think we've already
22:13
laid a lot of really great groundwork
22:15
for how we do that, including some of
22:17
our education and certificate programs that we've partnered
22:20
with our academic institutions on
22:23
as well as job creation. We... As Joe
22:26
mentioned, the the next generation of jobs is
22:28
gonna look different than what it looks like
22:30
today. How do we start to position our
22:32
communities for
22:34
success
22:35
and really grow towards those next generation jobs
22:40
I think Cleveland can be at the forefront
22:41
of defining and shaping what those jobs look
22:44
like. And Cleveland Innovation district and the anchor
22:47
institutions will be the defining model what that
22:51
looks like for years to come?
22:55
I'll add something
22:58
I'd love
22:59
Brian and Joe's,
23:01
grand
23:03
portrait of what we're trying to accomplish here,
23:06
maybe
23:07
some smaller items from my end, Laura,
23:11
including, we've got a website in the works.
23:13
And
23:15
you know, what we've done, I think quite
23:17
well is
23:19
these actions behind the scenes. And now it's
23:22
time to
23:24
know,
23:25
bring this to life and make it more
23:27
visible, and we're we've got a website that's
23:30
in the works. A lot of our efforts
23:32
given that this was launched during the side
23:34
of the pandemic,
23:35
where,
23:36
these things happen virtually. And now we have
23:39
an opportunity to
23:41
house all these great activities and programs within
23:45
more visible
23:47
buildings or more visible,
23:49
places. We talk about place making before just
23:52
to make it even more tangible
23:54
or our community as well as the outside
23:57
world
23:58
and
23:59
there's
24:00
great opportunities
24:01
to build on that front. There someone
24:04
within Cleveland who
24:06
has also said this about us. We could
24:08
also have a bit more swag.
24:11
So, I guess, add that to the visibility
24:13
element. How do we tell our story
24:16
and we've got some great
24:18
wins
24:20
within the first
24:21
3.5 years of the 10 year
24:23
program here. Or Cleveland innovation district. How do
24:26
we also really bring the
24:29
the Oo when it comes to the narrative
24:31
of this, socializing it getting people to celebrate
24:34
with us in terms of place making.
24:37
And do that with a a bit of
24:39
swag. So stay tuned as we're also working
24:41
on our website,
24:43
where we wanna tell these stories
24:46
for many more years to come and through
24:49
this incredible platform that we have.
24:52
That's amazing to hear. I'm really looking forward
24:54
to seeing all this come to light in
24:57
supporting all the things that you're doing in
24:58
Cleveland in the Cleveland Innovation district.
25:01
Kip Brian Joe. Thank you so much for
25:03
being here today. This has been a fascinating
25:05
discussion and very inspiring as well. I look
25:07
forward to connecting with you all again soon.
25:10
Thank you. Thank you, Laura.
25:11
We appreciate the opportunity.