THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH and its corresponding medical center (UPMC) are once again partnering to advance the pace of life-changing innovation in the region and beyond. The University of Pittsburgh and UPMC leaders announced plans to establish the new UPMC Immune Transplant and Therapy Center (ITTC), with much of its activity planned within an eight-story innovation hub—all part of a concerted effort to harness the power of the human immune system to treat and cure a wide range of diseases.
Backed by decades of pioneering research at the University of Pittsburgh, UPMC’s initial 3-year funding commitment for ITTC seeks to accelerate the pace at which medical teams can utilize new research. This investment will help to pinpoint the most promising advances in immunology. The center’s work will initially focus on three major areas: transplantation, cancer, and aging and chronic diseases.
As part of the collaboration, UPMC has made a $200 million commitment to ITTC, and the University will transform a century-old building into a world-class space for labs, offices, startup companies, and industry partners. The property represents the University of Pittsburgh’s largest development project to date, aimed at strengthening the city’s innovation district. The renovation, which is projected to take more than 2 years, is expected to create thousands of local jobs. ■
