A biotech engine in South Florida? Think Brain Coast

When the Scripps Research Institute in San Diego and the German Max Planck Society came to Palm Beach County almost 20 years ago, officials dreamed of building a biotechnology engine that could compete with the nation’s largest research centers in Boston, San Diego, North Carolina and San Francisco .

These grand ambitions have not been realized, even though the august institutions have been joined over the years by a strong presence from Florida Atlantic University, all on the same campus in Jupiter’s Abacoa neighborhood.

To move to the next stage of recruiting scientists and building the region’s reputation, the three institutions have partnered with key funding partners to express their shared interest in the human brain.

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They plan to unveil South Florida’s Brain Coast, a name intended to evoke the focus, enthusiasm and success of Florida’s Space Coast, on October 24.

“You have to have a goal, you have to have a challenge, you have to have a mission. And good things happen because of these things,” said Randy Blakely, executive director of the FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute.

Blakely and Palm Health Foundation President and CEO Patrick McNamara have merged their own institutions with the Blakely Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology. Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps, the Max Planck Institute for Neuroscience of Florida, the Stiles Nicholson Foundation and the Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network, known as SEFBHN.

Palm Health, a company established as a result of the sale of the Good Samaritan and St. Medical Centers in 2001. Mary’s for $244 million; Stiles-Nicholson, private foundation; and SEFBHN, which distributes state Department of Children and Family Services money to a five-county region, handle the grantmaking.

Debunking myths and highlighting brain health

Their goal is to be based on three pillars:

They want to dispel myths, share scientific discoveries and instill the importance of mental well-being and resilience by promoting a culture that prioritizes brain health.

McNamara, who led Palm Health for seven years, said the Brain Coast concept came to him several years ago during a Johns Hopkins symposium at The Breakers.

“They were interviewing a guy who had early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and who was going to Johns Hopkins for care,” McNamara said in an interview he gave with Blakely to Stet News. “And they asked him, ‘Why?’ He said, “Because they really have a connection to deep brain science, they are very involved in the community and they are innovative in their care.”

“So I thought, ‘This is what we need to promote here.'”

Institutions are already cooperating, and scientists use the most modern equipment. They are trying to move beyond animal research to people, although North County still lacks a teaching hospital long considered key to growth.

“Go and look at what neuroscience research is being done on the Jupiter campus,” Blakely said. “With almost no exception, it’s all about molecules and animals. This is not found in human studies. … It’s a conspicuous absence.”

All about the brain

The institutions will continue their engagement efforts and look for ways to collaborate. Some of the current efforts:

Blakely suggested that these efforts are still in their infancy, where 15 years ago the best biotechnology centers in the country were located.

“I think in a few years we’ll turn around and you’ll see that they’ve thought about this area when you say, ‘Oh, OK, well, there’s Southern California and then there’s Boston,’ and there’s no reason in the world why it can’t be South Florida ” – he said.

McNamara said he hopes that within the next 10 years the Brain Coast will be known not only nationally, but around the world.

“We’re going to do everything we can to really continue to put South Florida on the map for all things brain-related,” he said.

What’s next: Launch is scheduled for 4 p.m., Oct. 24, at the Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, 5353 Parkside Drive, Jupiter. Reservations for participation can be made here.

This story was originally published by Stet News Palm BeachWLRN News affiliate.