Breaking new ground
No-one has built a research park like this before.
TCI is being developed for researchers by researchers. To do this, we’ve assembled a team that allies the wisdom and insight of leading researchers to expertise in development, construction and master-planned communities.
Here are some of the people that are helping TCI break new ground.
John DelRusso
DelRusso is President of the Mann Research Center, LLC and Mann Biomedical Park, LLC in Valencia, California.
He has worked with Mann since 2001, when he began negotiating the purchase of a 170-acre business park that became Mann Biomedical Park. He still manages those facilities and the Sylmar Biomedical Park.
DelRusso previously managed facilities, real estate operations and construction with one of the USA’s largest cochlear implant manufacturers, Advanced Bionics Corporation. He has also served as Facilities Director with one of the world’s largest cardiac implant manufacturers, Pacesetter.
Andrew Favata
Favata is Vice President of the Mann Research Center, LLC.
During 14 years in development, Favata has managed projects totaling more than $1 billion in value and encompassing more than 7 million square feet and is now responsible for the TCI research park.
Favata was Executive Vice President with Core Communities, a leading developer of master planned communities, and was also a Southeast Florida business development manager for W.G. Mills, Inc.
Leading researchers at TCI
TCI is guided by Florida Innovation Partners, LLC, which consists of leaders from research organizations that have become anchor members at TCI. This group benefits from the insight of leading researchers such as:
Richard A. Houghten, Ph.D., Founder and President of Torrey Pines Research Institute
Dr. Houghten has published more than 500 papers and won multiple awards, including the Vincent du Vigneaud Award for Excellence in Peptide Science. He pioneered the “tea bag” approach to peptide synthesis, which has fueled the cost-efficient creation of millions of new peptides and compounds.
Jay Nelson, Ph.D., Founder and Director of Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute
Dr. Nelson is the Editor of the Journal of Virology and Associate Editor of PLOS Pathogens. He is renowned for his work on the cytomegalovirus and has created a humanized mouse to study molecular aspects of the virus’ latency and reactivation.
Alpana Desai, M.D., Stuart Oncology Associate at Martin Memorial Health Systems
Dr. Desai was Principal Investigator on the National SELECT trial, investigating the effect of selenium and vitamin E in prostate cancer prevention.
Rafick Sékaly, Co-Director and Scientific Director of Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute
Dr. Sékaly has led more than 10 clinical trials aimed at reconstituting the immune response in patients with HIV, HCV and cancer. He previously directed one of the world’s leading HIV vaccine development groups at the University of Montreal.