The New Jersey Innovation Institute (NJII) opened the cutting-edge cell and gene therapy development and clinical manufacturing center BioCentriq Thursday on the campus of the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) in Newark.

“New Jersey is a top hub for cell and gene therapy,” said Jose Lozano, president and chief executive officer of Choose New Jersey. “We are home to groundbreaking cell and gene therapy companies that are leading the way in next-generation therapeutics. Today’s ribbon cutting at BioCentriq is another exciting chapter for New Jersey’s innovation economy. We look forward to seeing how BioCentriq will advance the industry in years to come.”

“There is a massive need for what BioCentriq can provide, and our ability to fill that gap will translate into results that literally save and improve the quality of countless lives,” said New Jersey Institute of Technology Dr. Joel Bloom at the virtual grand opening and ribbon cutting. “We have the capacity to help companies develop processes, conduct clinical production trials, and train employees.”

The virtual event included a video tour of the facility and a panel discussion on the future of cell and gene therapy manufacturing led by Haro Hartounian, senior vice president and general manager of the Biopharma Division, and senior vice-president and general manager of BioCentriq.

“BioCentriq’s mission is to bring together industry, technology developers, academia and regulatory agencies to help advance the development and manufacturing of cell and gene therapies,” said Hartounian.

“Our goal is to provide a collaborative space where innovative approaches and technologies can be utilized to help make emerging therapeutics available to the patients that so desperately need them,” Hartounian said.