Horizons Fall 2016

30 NSU HORIZONS “As more people and organi- zations, such as AutoNation, donate money, and as we garner more federal funding, our footprint in the CCR will increase,” said Latimer. She likens the synergy at the CCR to a clubhouse. “It’s a place where we can all meet and work together,’’ she added. In addition, the NSU Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography researchers are partnering with the NSU AutoNation Institute to develop natural, sea-derived drug products. H. Thomas Temple, M.D., senior vice president of translational research and economic development at NSU, said the CCR will also bring in other groups from outside of the university that will be housed in the build- ing to share in the development of ideas, discoveries, and technologies. The third floor of the CCR will house companies from the private sector, while the fifth floor is earmarked for nonprofit groups. While there have been no announce- ments of which companies will enter the space, Temple said he is looking for firms that are the right fit. “I can tell you that many of the companies are involved in things like developing smart collagens, drug develop- ment, and clinical trial operations, and the list of solid candidates goes on. It’s just a matter of time before we work out details to see how everyone fits in.” There’s another addition that has the potential to put NSU and its CCR in a league on the same playing level, if not higher, with some of the most well-regarded research institutions. “What is really going to set us apart is Presi- dent Hanbury’s vision of NSU developing a bench to bedside initiative. This is where we develop really clever and novel things that are meaningful and parlay those into clinical trials that would go into a hospital right on campus,” said Temple. In May, Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administra- tion submitted its final approval for HCA East Florida to relocate Plantation General Hospital to NSU. (See story on page 43.) “HCA brings an enormous amount of gravitas to NSU,’’ said Temple. “Having a research facility next to a major teaching hospital, and all of the things that can be developed, puts us on par with other truly dedicated research teaching hospitals, of which there is only one other in the state of Florida.” Amid all the excitement, the pragmatic surgeon has a message to deliver. “We need to be patient,’’ said Temple. “We’re not going to be world class overnight. We’ve laid the foundation for something great. Now we have to nurture it.” 0 At right, Marc Cannon of AutoNation; Jacqueline Travisano, executive vice president and COO at NSU; Ron Assaf, chairman of NSU’s Board of Trustees; IndyCar racer Ryan Hunter-Reay; and Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson, vice presi- dent for Advancement and Community Relations. Below, Stephen Grant, center, and Jean Latimer in the AutoNation/ Hunter-Reay Research Lab at the NSU AutoNation Institute for Breast and Solid Tumor Cancer Research. Continued from page 29