PHILADELPHIA, PA -- (August 12, 2019) – John Younger, MD has joined the University City Science Center as Vice President, Science & Technology.
With extensive clinical, research and entrepreneurial experience, Dr. Younger will build on the momentum of the Science Center’s commercialization, startup investment and business acceleration programs including QED, Phase 1 Ventures, the Digital Health Accelerator, ic@3401, and Global Soft Landing. He will also work with the Science and Technology team to develop and implement new programs that fill existing gaps in the ecosystem and support technology-based economic development.
John was most recently Chief Technology Officer at Akadeum Life Sciences, Inc., a venture-backed life science company he founded out of his laboratory at the University of Michigan. Akadeum makes a family of microbubble-based tools for isolating living cells for research, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications. Younger will continue to serve on Akadeum's Board of Directors.
John currently serves on the National Advisory Council of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, the third largest of the National Institute of Health Institutes and one focused on basic research across the life sciences as well on clinical conditions related to trauma, surgery, and sepsis. In that capacity John helps Institute leadership evaluate their research portfolio and provides strategic guidance for future efforts.
“John brings a wide range and depth of experience to the role,” says Science Center President & CEO Steve Zarrilli. “His combination of clinical, academic and entrepreneurial expertise is well-suited to identify the needs of emerging technology companies and establish a vision for the future of Science Center commercialization efforts.”
Dr. Younger holds a medical degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, where he currently serves on the National Alumni Advisory Board, and a master’s degree in Clinical Research Design and Statistical Analysis from the University of Michigan.
About the Science Center
Located in the heart of uCity Square, the Science Center is a mission-driven nonprofit organization that catalyzes and connects innovation to entrepreneurship and technology commercialization. For 56 years, the Science Center has supported startups, research, and economic development in the life sciences, healthcare, physical sciences, and emerging technology sectors. As a result, Science Center-supported companies account for one out of every 100 jobs in the Greater Philadelphia region and drive $13 billion in economic activity in the region annually. By providing resources and programming for any stage of a business’s lifecycle, the Science Center helps scientists, entrepreneurs and innovators take their concepts from idea to IPO – and beyond. For more information about the Science Center, visit www.sciencecenter.org
