New CHOP Partnership Will Expand Ways to Move Research to the Marketplace

Investigators at Children’s Hospital work tirelessly to uncover the inner workings of biological systems and the causes of diseases. But making discoveries is only part of the challenge; the next set of challenges often lies with taking the new knowledge from discoveries and working with outside partners to bring promising new therapeutics and treatments to patients.

A partnership between Children’s Hospital and the venture-capital firm Osage University Partners (OUP) will expand the opportunities to commercialize the research done at Children’s Hospital, moving the potential for new treatments even closer to patients’ bedsides.

OUP invests exclusively in startup companies that commercialize academic research. It shares part of the resulting profits with those institutions to further promote entrepreneurial opportunities within those centers.

OUP is part of Osage Partners, a family of venture capital funds based in Bala Cynwyd, Pa. OUP has research partnerships with more than 60 universities and research centers, including the University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University, Carnegie-Mellon University, Drexel University, and Duke University.

The company invests in life sciences, biopharma, and medical devices and diagnostics, in addition to other industries such as those involved in information technology, energy and materials technology. It typically co-invests in conjunction with other venture companies.

“This partnership offers a mechanism to move our Hospital’s innovative research into the marketplace and better provide health benefits to children and families worldwide,” said Philip R. Johnson, MD, chief scientific officer and executive vice president at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.