Toronto (Aug. 25, 2005) - University Health Network's first "mission" to MaRS has landed and the new residents couldn't be more pleased.
The Research Business Development Office, along with UHN Global Ventures, moved last week to new office space in the four-storey Heritage Building. The building was formerly the Charlie Conacher Research Wing of Toronto General Hospital and is now part of the Medical and Related Sciences (MaRS) Centre. The two groups are the first wave of UHN tenants to take up space at MaRS. They will be followed in the fall by researchers from across UHN who will be occupying eight floors of the Toronto Medical Discovery Tower at MaRS, located at the corner of Elizabeth and College Streets.
The MaRS Centre was established to enhance the rate of commercialization of research and innovation in Canada.
"We see MaRS as a convenient intersection – a base to accelerate and strengthen our interactions with our technology transfer colleagues and with our commercial partners and customers," said Bob McArthur, Director of the UHN Research Business Development Office. "Above all, it will be our headquarters for serving scientists across UHN."
The RBDO, part of UHN Research Support Services, commercializes scientific discoveries to generate revenue for reinvesting in UHN research programs and for rewarding inventors.
The goal of Global Ventures, launched last spring and led by Brian Barber, is to increase commercialization and the global impact of UHN Research by establishing new strategic partnerships and expanding drug and device development.
"We are pleased to call MaRS our new home and we are thrilled about all of the opportunities that these new surroundings will bring," said Barber.
