Mt. Sinai scientists push for East Harlem biotech center

Rendering of 423 West 127th Street (Credit: Emon Hassan)
Rendering of 423 West 127th Street (Credit: Emon Hassan)

Scientists from Mount Sinai’s medical school are considering a 10,000-square-foot East Harlem site near the Upper East Side hospital for a nonprofit work space to be shared by a dozen medical startups.

The group, known as Keystone for Incubating Innovation in Life Sciences, or KiiLN, seeks to raise $3 million to build the biotech center. They building would join two other medical developments in Upper Manhattan: Harlem Biospace at 423 West 127th Street – formerly known as the Sweets Building – and the Alexandria Center for Life Science, along the East River near 30th Street.

“[East Harlem is] slightly more affordable right now, and it’s our backyard,” Nicole McKnight, a neurologist with Mount Sinai, told DNAinfo.

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The group did provide the address for the biotech hub, but said the space has been empty for five years. The planned hub will house labs, lecture halls and conference rooms, DNAinfo said. [DNAinfo]Mark Maurer