Southern Methodist University is looking to bring “world-changing research” to Pegasus Park’s Biotech+ Hub.
The local university announced plans to set up a new institution within the development with the aim of bringing together researchers from a variety of disciplines to collaborate and take part in entrepreneurial activities.
“We’re excited to give SMU faculty this new opportunity to pursue world-changing research for good and to do so in close proximity to a broad range of academic, medical, corporate, and nonprofit collaborators,” SMU Provost Elizabeth Loboa said in a statement.
Multiple SMU centers to work under the Institute for Computational Biosciences at Pegasus Park
BioLabs exterior view at Pegasus Park. [Photo: BioLabs at Pegasus Park]
Under the SMU Institute for Computational Biosciences at Pegasus Park, researchers from the fields of biology and computer science to business and education will work together. Focusing on “bio-scientific discoveries leveraging advanced computational algorithms and technologies,” the institute brings together multiple SMU centers, including the Center for Drug Discovery, Design, and Delivery; the planned Center for Computational Genomics; AI Institute for Precision Health; and the Center for Metaverse Immersive Technologies for Health Sciences.
According to Suku Nair, interim associate provost for research and director of SMU’s AT&T Center for Virtualization, SMU is bringing something vital to the table at Pegasus Park: its high-performance computing system, ManeFrame II, which will be connected to the institute via a 100-gig fiber link.
“Researchers from other universities, industry experts, and entrepreneurs and venture capitalists located on the campus also offer opportunities for collaboration,” the university noted in a blog post.
SMU joins other innovators at Pegasus Park
The main building at Pegasus Park.[Rendering: GFF]
SMU joins UT Southwestern at the 23-acre Pegasus Park development, which is located in Dallas’ rapidly expanding Innovation District between the Dallas Design District and the Southwestern Medical District. Other tenants include ‘de-extinction’ startup Colossal Biosciences and respiratory disease-focused biopharma ReCode Therapeutics.
In addition to organizations like Health Wildcatters and Capital Factory, the local mixed-used development is also home to the social impact hub Water Cooler at Pegasus Park, a shared space aimed at helping organizations attract and retain talent and improve their collaboration. The Water Cooler has around 20 tenants.
“Dallas-Fort Worth is home to exceptional research institutions like ours, nationally renowned healthcare facilities, promising startup companies, and funding for biotech and health care research. But we are all scattered,” Loboa said. “Pegasus Park offers the opportunity to bring all of those strengths into a central location.”
David Seeley and Quincy Preston contributed to this report.
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