Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Launches New Biohub in New York

By Megan Craig, M.Sc.Oct 19 2023

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) will open a new biomedical research hub in the growing scientific landscape of New York City that aims to boost collaboration between leading scientific and technological institutions. The hub intends to tackle emerging scientific challenges in the next 10-15 years.

Named the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub New York (CZ Biohub NY), this endeavor has brought together Columbia University, The Rockefeller University, and Yale University, united in their pursuit of pioneering technologies to unravel the intricacies of immune cells. The ultimate goal? To craft targeted "cellular endoscopes" that can detect the initial stages of diseases within cells, monitor cellular transformations, and intervene before patients are unable to receive treatment.

CZ Biohub NY constitutes the fourth addition to the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Network, which is founded in a model that encourages collaboration. The network encompasses a CZ Biohub in San Francisco, a secondary hub in Chicago, and the Chan Zuckerberg Institute for Advanced Biological Imaging located in Redwood City, California.

Collectively, these institutions are committed to exploring science and technology that demystifies human biology in motion, offering profound insights into the operation of cells and tissues, thus enriching our understanding of health and disease.

This initiative benefits from investment from CZI, with substantial contributions of $10 million each coming from the State of New York and New York City. This formidable financial backing sets the stage for the New York Biohub's transformative mission.

Priscilla Chan, Co-Founder and co-CEO of CZI, expressed enthusiasm about the project's launch, emphasizing its dedication to leveraging the human immune system to detect, preempt, and ultimately treat diseases before they progress beyond remedy.

She acknowledged the prevailing challenge:

Diseases such as cancer and Parkinson’s are often diagnosed after the onset of obvious symptoms, making them harder or even impossible to treat.

Priscilla Chan, Co-Founder and co-CEO of CZI

Standard laboratory tests and imaging scans, while invaluable, often detect abnormalities once diseases have already taken root. The opportunity to create tools capable of identifying irregularities in advance is a transformative prospect for medical care.

Immune cells stand poised to tackle this challenge, given their unique status as the sole cell type in the human body that interacts with virtually all tissues. They circulate through the bloodstream and lymphatic system, serving as vigilant sentinels monitoring and preserving organ health.

CZ Biohub NY aspires to unlock the wealth of information harbored in the "molecular memory" of immune cells. Armed with cutting-edge single-cell biology tools, advanced experimental techniques, and the power of machine learning and artificial intelligence, the project's scientists intend to bioengineer immune cells with new functionalities to continuously oversee and manage the health of organs and tissues.

The ultimate goal is to not go after a specific disease – it’s to create a new tool or platform that all scientists can use to study and make more specific advances.

Mark Zuckerberg, Co-Founder and co-CEO of CZI

The initial focus of CZ Biohub NY lies in decoding the molecular memory and states of immune cells as they sense signals emanating from diseased cells and organs. This invaluable information permits the anticipation of tissue-specific early warning signs.

The next phase of the initiative is a pioneering approach involving technology-driven solutions for challenging conditions like ovarian and pancreatic cancers, neurodegenerative disorders, and autoimmune diseases. 

The long-term vision is to bioengineer immune cells capable of journeying to specific organs, identifying potential anomalies, and preserving this data within their molecular structure. This information can be readily accessed through a simple blood draw or non-invasive devices for interpretation by scientists and, eventually, medical professionals.

CZ Biohub NY's leadership comprises distinguished figures such as Sohail Tavazoie, M.D., Ph.D., from Rockefeller University, and John Tsang, Ph.D., from Yale University. These luminaries contribute their expertise to the realization of the project's ambitious goals.

The collaboration has garnered acclaim from leaders, with New York Governor Hochul underscoring the transformative potential of the Biohub for early disease prevention, detection, and treatment. The project reflects New York City's stature as a burgeoning hub for life sciences research, benefitting from a multitude of research centers, hospitals, and an industrious workforce, all conducive to fostering innovation.

Video Credit: Chan Zuckerberg Initiative/YouTube.com

This venture aligns with the broader LifeSci NYC initiative, spearheaded by the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), aiming to establish a thousand companies, generate tens of thousands of jobs, and stimulate economic growth over the next 15 years.

As CZI's mission unfolds, a critical component of the initiative involves the development of open-source software tools to expedite scientific research. Additionally, CZI allocates substantial funds to support research efforts across the globe, especially projects that necessitate unconventional environments. These endeavors will also facilitate the construction of predictive models for both healthy and diseased cells, driven by one of the world's largest computing systems dedicated to nonprofit life science research.

Stephen Quake, Head of Science at CZI, emphasized the progress made in developing more advanced diagnostics over the past decade and the immense potential of harnessing the immune system for early disease detection. The work of CZ Biohub NY is set to uncover essential insights into disease initiation and inhibition, potentially paving the way for groundbreaking therapies.

Source: Chan Zuckerberg Initiative