Kathleen Otto-Rosenblum, CEO, BioNTX

In an interview with Invest:, Kathleen Otto-Rosenblum, CEO of BioNTX, highlighted Pegasus Park’s role as a biotech hub and ARPA-H’s selection of Dallas as a national healthcare innovation site, solidifying North Texas’ bioscience prominence. “The focus on real estate tailored to biotech reflects the region’s commitment to nurturing this growing sector,” she said.

What is BioNTX’s mission and its role in advancing North Texas as a bioscience hub?

BioNTX is a regional membership association and trade organization serving the North Texas region. We are a regional affiliate of BIO, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, based in Washington, D.C., which has been a leader in biotechnology advocacy for many years. Our affiliation with them, established about a decade ago, allows us to align with their advocacy efforts while focusing on the unique needs of our region.

The mission of BioNTX is to foster the bioscience and healthcare innovation industry. We do this by supporting startups, creating networking opportunities to connect companies and investors, and working with state and federal policymakers to highlight the industry’s strengths. Our advocacy emphasizes the creation of high-paying jobs and the significant economic impact of bioscience in the region.

Our territory spans Lubbock to Tyler and Wichita Falls to Waco, encompassing cities with major universities and medical centers. For example, Fort Worth has several medical schools, and Arlington features a significant Tier 1 Ph.D. program that collaborates with those institutions. These hubs are vital for fostering innovation in biotechnology, which progresses along a continuum, from medical research to startups, funding, and eventual patient care.

What recent milestones highlight North Texas as an emerging bioscience hub?

In 2019, the construction of the 26-acre multi-use campus known as Pegasus Park marked a transformative moment for North Texas, driven by the vision and philanthropy of Lyda Hill. Her substantial investment in this project provided a critical foundation for the region’s bioscience community, addressing the longstanding challenge of retaining businesses emerging from institutions like UT Southwestern Medical Center. Before Pegasus Park, many startups left North Texas due to a lack of infrastructure and community support. Today, Pegasus Park stands as a state-of-the-art facility where biotech companies can grow and thrive, catalyzing the region’s potential as a bioscience hub.

In alignment with BioNTX’s mission to foster the bioscience and healthcare innovation industry, our role as the connective tissue in North Texas’s bioscience ecosystem has been instrumental in driving progress. Networking lies at the heart of our efforts, enabling us to bridge gaps and solidify North Texas’s reputation as an emerging bioscience hub.

A prime example of this is the 2022 workforce initiative led by Dallas College in collaboration with other stakeholders, supported by an $8.8 million grant. This initiative creates pathways for individuals in rural and urban populations across 16 North Texas counties to transition from “jobs” to “careers” that require advanced skills and education. By leveraging our extensive ecosystem relationships and working closely with partners like Dallas College, BioNTX fosters awareness, inspires growth, and helps build a robust workforce pipeline essential for the region’s continued success.

This initiative not only underscores our commitment to workforce investment but also equips individuals with the tools needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving industry, further amplifying North Texas’s standing as a bioscience leader.

Another pivotal moment came in 2023 with ARPA-H, a multibillion-dollar government project dedicated to advancing healthcare and biotechnology innovation. ARPA-H selected Dallas, specifically Pegasus Park, as its customer experience hub — one of only three hubs nationwide, alongside Washington, D.C., and Boston. This decision underscores the region’s growing prominence in industry and its strategic importance in the national bioscience landscape.

This momentum has spurred collaboration between Fort Worth, Dallas, Arlington, and smaller cities like DeSoto to develop new infrastructure tailored to the life sciences sector. A prime example is the focus on buildings equipped with wet labs, which are essential for biotechnology research and development. These efforts exemplify the region’s dedication to fostering innovation and sustaining its position as a rising leader in the biosciences.

How does BioNTX support this continuum of biotechnology development?

We engage at every stage of the biotechnology pipeline. It begins with medical research conducted at universities and medical centers. Some researchers then spin off companies to commercialize their discoveries. These startups require funding to grow, leading to capital investments and partnerships. Companies may either scale into large entities or be acquired by bigger players in the industry. Ultimately, the goal is to deliver innovations directly to patients at the point of care. Our role is to foster this ecosystem by connecting researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors, while advocating for the needs of the industry.

What sets North Texas apart as an emerging bioscience hub compared to other ecosystems?

The first and most defining factor is collaboration. North Texas is uniquely collaborative, with stakeholders across government, industry, and academia all working together toward a shared vision of becoming a leading bioscience hub, akin to Boston. This level of cooperation isn’t something you see everywhere.

Collaboration here doesn’t eliminate competition; it makes it healthier. Organizations understand that they thrive better together, creating a dynamic yet unified ecosystem. This cooperative mindset, coupled with world-class science, strategic infrastructure like Pegasus Park, and logistical assets such as DFW Airport, positions North Texas for extraordinary growth over the next decade.

Another critical differentiator is DFW Airport. It is one of only two airports in the United States certified for excellence in biopharmaceutical shipping, storage, and last-mile delivery. This specialized infrastructure supports the transportation of medicines and chemical reagents that require meticulous handling, giving North Texas a logistical edge.

Additionally, the region benefits from abundant open space for development, no personal income tax, and a relatively affordable cost of living. While we are still advocating for stronger state incentives to attract more companies, North Texas already has influential leaders actively promoting the region to the broader biotech industry.

What specific sectors within bioscience are driving growth in North Texas?

Several sectors are fueling growth here. We have a strong therapeutics and medical device community, and we are particularly focused on emerging areas like cell and gene therapy, bio-pharma manufacturing, as well as a strong rare disease research and clinical expertise.

Cell and gene therapy represent the future of precision medicine. UT Southwestern, UT Arlington, and other institutions are leading the way in these areas. UT Arlington has committed to developing biomanufacturing education programs, laying the groundwork for a biomanufacturing corridor that stretches from Arlington up to Oklahoma City. This “Route 35 Corridor” has potential for significant growth, bolstered by partnerships and real estate development along the way.

Rare disease research is another key area of excellence. For instance, Reata Pharmaceuticals, a company born out of UT Southwestern, developed groundbreaking science in this field and was acquired in a $7 billion buyout by a Boston-based company in 2023. While Reata is no longer in North Texas, its success underscores the region’s strength in rare disease and gene therapy innovation as well as resilience.

What funding initiatives are in place to support bioscience sectors in Texas?

Texas is home to CPRIT (Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas), a state-created fund for cancer research and startups. CPRIT provides non-dilutive funding to young companies and academic institutions, attracting top talent and fostering innovation in cancer treatment and prevention. This fund is second only to the National Cancer Institute Fund in Washington, D.C.

Building on this success, there is momentum to create a similar fund for brain research. This initiative is expected to support research and young companies focused on neurological science. While the brain research bill is still under legislative review, it has strong support and could become a game-changer for Texas’ bioscience ecosystem.

BioNTX also helps small companies save money through our purchasing consortium. In collaboration with BIO, we provide discounts on lab supplies, clinical trial insurance, and other necessities, helping startups stretch their budgets.

What challenges are you facing in fostering the bioscience community, and how are you addressing them?

Funding remains a significant challenge for the bioscience community, particularly given the high costs associated with clinical trials and product development. To address this, BioNTX has launched initiatives like the Rising Stars program, which shines a spotlight on the exceptional work being undertaken by smaller companies to tackle some of the industry’s most pressing challenges. By generating awareness of these innovators, we create an environment where investors — many of whom have traditionally focused on industries like oil and gas — can explore the immense potential of investing in the life sciences and biotech. This initiative provides these investors with a deeper understanding of how supporting this sector represents a promising new horizon for industry in Texas, fostering a vital connection between innovation and investment.

Legislative awareness is another hurdle. With part-time legislators often unfamiliar with the complexities and opportunities within bioscience, we focus on education and advocacy. By highlighting the industry’s significance and championing initiatives such as expanding brain research funding beyond cancer, we work to ensure that policymakers recognize and support the bioscience sector’s critical role in the region’s economy and healthcare advancements.

But even with these challenges, we remain steadfast and energized by our mission and those that we serve in North Texas in this worthy endeavor.