We launched the Helix 51 incubator nearly four years ago to advance early-stage and start-up companies. It is located in our Basic Science Building, adjacent to and connected with the Innovation Research Park (IRP). Helix 51 has 9 companies specializing in fields such as oncology, cardiovascular health, infection disease, fibrotic disease and fibromyalgia, with a tenth about the begin.
Helix 51 graduated one company, AirAnswers, which then became the first company to reside within the IRP. Using $2 million in matching funds from the Illinois Department of Commerce wetlab buildout program (with RFU matching another $2 million), RFU is now building out more than 14,000 sq. ft. of additional wetlab space in the IRP that will come online in Q2 2023.
As part of that buildout, we will expand the Helix 51 incubator to handle an additional 9 lab-based companies - an important step because Helix 51 is the only biomedical incubator north of downtown Chicago. We are also in advanced discussions to bring in an out-of-state biotech company to the third floor of the IRP.
RFU just launched an exciting new speaker series. How do the monthly discussions bring industry leaders together and advance innovation?
We recently created a new program, in partnership with Lake County Partners, to address key issues in healthcare and biomedical research through a hybrid format of both live and virtual meetings. This program consists of both RFU leading faculty researchers in key disease areas as well as regional industry leaders involved in these diseases.
Because an important part of RFU research involves brain diseases and mental health, our first two programs have been focused on these areas and included key industry leaders from Abbvie, Lundbeck, Aptinyx and Vanqua Bio. Next year, we will explore other diseases as well as challenges for academic researchers in translating their biomedical discoveries into products and new companies to develop and commercialize these inventions. Learn more and get involved here.
How has LCP impacted what you do?
LCP has been a great partner to RFU at many levels, including:
- representing and connecting us with key federal, state, county, and municipal legislators and economic development executives;
- promoting our new IRP and Helix 51 incubator;
- helping identify and recruit companies from out-of-state by demonstrating the value of locating in Lake County and at the IRP; and,
- promoting Lake County’s vast bioscience cluster and community with more than 122 companies and 33,000 jobs.
While Chicagoland has 6 medical schools, the only one in Lake County is RFU’s Chicago Medical School. Along with the IRP, it is located within 15 minutes of 90% of Lake County's bioscience companies, and right next to the Lovell Federal HealthCare Center, with its Naval and VA hospitals. LCP played an important role in getting the RFU campus included in the Illinois Enterprise Zones in Waukegan and North Chicago, which provides financial incentives to establishing companies. This is an added benefit for companies coming to the IRP. Read personal stories of select start-ups in the IRP in our blog.
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