Center for Discovery and Innovation

What Center for Discovery and Innovation does

The Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI) is a nonprofit translational biomedical research institute founded in 2018 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH), a New Jersey 501(c)(3) healthcare system. It operates from a 111 Ideation Way address in Nutley, NJ, on the 116-acre former Hoffmann-La Roche campus historically known as "The Birthplace of Interferon," co-located with the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, the John Theurer Cancer Center, Eisai's North American headquarters, and a regional Quest Diagnostics hub. CDI runs an integrated portfolio of four disease-focused research institutes — the Cancer Prevention Precision Control Institute (CPPCI), the Institute for Multiple Myeloma and Lymphoma (iMML), the Institute for Immunologic Intervention (3i) — alongside two NIH NIAID-funded drug discovery accelerators (Bacterial CETR, Fungal CETR) and the Metropolitan Anti-Viral Drug Accelerator (MAVDA), supported by a 60,000+ GSF core facility suite spanning ABSL3 biocontainment, genomics, mass spectrometry, flow cytometry, microscopy, biorepository, drug metabolism, virology, and bioinformatics.

CDI's research output is unusually high for an institution of its type: 2,500+ peer-reviewed publications in journals including Science, Nature, NEJM, Lancet, and mBio; 85+ cumulative grants and contracts; 58 NIH awards; and two NIH-designated national Centers of Excellence. Technology differentiators include the Transmission Simulation System (TSS) co-developed with MIT and Weill Cornell for airborne TB transmission study and the Drug Discovery Accelerator Platform organizing Pharma-style translational cores targeting high-threat bacterial, fungal, and viral pathogens.

CDI generates revenue almost exclusively through federal grants (predominantly NIH/NIAID), institutional support from Hackensack Meridian Health, philanthropy, and academic-industry partnerships — not commercial product sales. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and pricing models are inapplicable given the nonprofit 501(c)(3) status. Customer and partner segments include healthcare systems and hospitals (primarily within HMH's 18-hospital network), academic and research institutions (Georgetown Lombardi, New York Genome Center, MIT, Weill Cornell, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine), pharmaceutical and biotech companies (Teva, Merck, BD, Eisai connections via board), and federal agencies (NIH/NIAID). Distribution of innovations occurs through publications, licensing via CDI's Office of Innovation and Commercialization, clinical collaborations, and IND/510(k) regulatory pathways rather than commercial channels.

Name

Center for Discovery and Innovation

Legal name

Hackensack Meridian Health, Inc.

Website

https://hmh-cdi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Center for Discovery and Innovation is a nonprofit translational biomedical research institute within Hackensack Meridian Health that advances drug discovery and clinical translation for cancer, infectious diseases, and immunology across four specialized research institutes and NIH-funded drug discovery accelerators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Translational Biomedical Research

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)

akta.pro primary industry

Companion Diagnostics (CDx) Development & Trial Testing Support (HLAGAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Companion Diagnostics (CDx) & Therapy Selection Assays (HLAAALAF), Companion Diagnostic (CDx) Co-Development Services (biopharma partnerships, clinical strategy) (HLAAAMAB)

Keywords

• Biomedical research
• Translational research
• Drug discovery
• Infectious disease research
• Cancer research

Headquarters

HQ city

Nutley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CDI operates a translational biomedical research platform that conducts drug discovery, genomics, imaging, and preclinical research to advance treatments for cancer, infectious diseases, and chronic conditions. It runs dedicated research institutes and NIH-funded drug discovery accelerators targeting high-threat pathogens (bacteria, fungi, viruses), supported by state-of-the-art core laboratories and an 18-hospital clinical network.

Product overview

The Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI) is an academic-based translational research institution structured as a platform of interconnected research institutes and core facilities, not a single commercial product. The core institutional portfolio consists of four distinct research institutes: the Cancer Prevention Precision Control Institute (CPPCI), the Institute for Multiple Myeloma and Lymphoma (iMML), the Institute for Immunologic Intervention (3i), and the Center for Excellence in Translational Research (CETR) — the last encompassing two NIH-funded drug discovery accelerators: the Bacterial CETR and the Fungal CETR, alongside the Metropolitan Anti-Viral Drug Accelerator (MAVDA). These institutes are supported by a suite of shared core research facilities (Bioinformatics, Genomics, Mass Spectrometry, Imaging, Biorepository, Drug Metabolism, Flow Cytometry, Virology, and ABSL3 Animal Models) and supplemented by training programs (Summer Research Scholar Program, Residency Research Rotation, High School Hands-On Workshop). Commercialization support is provided through an Intellectual Property and Licensing function. CDI's translational ecosystem integrates academic, industry, and clinical partners to move biomedical discoveries toward clinical application.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cancer Prevention Precision Control Institute (CPPCI) Leverages innovative behavioral science and health communication methodologies to address cancer prevention and control, community outreach and engagement, and improved health outcomes across the entire cancer care continuum.
• Institute for Multiple Myeloma and Lymphoma (iMML) Expedites the development of breakthrough ideas relating to the treatment of multiple myeloma to their full expression in preclinical studies, clinical trials, and approved interventions, ultimately offering life-saving care for patients.
• Institute for Immunologic Intervention (3i) Examines and develops the knowledge of T cell development, infection immunity, autoimmune inflammation, tumor immunity, and alloimmunity.
• Bacterial Center of Excellence for Translational Research (Bacterial CETR) Funded by NIH NIAID, dedicated to accelerating the development of innovative antibiotic candidates designed to combat drug-resistant bacteria through strategic academic-industry partnerships, with the goal of advancing multiple programs toward IND-ready investigational new drugs.
• Fungal Center of Excellence for Translational Research (Fungal CETR) Funded by NIH NIAID, confronts the challenge of invasive fungal infections by accelerating development of IND-ready small molecule drugs, an enhanced immunotherapy, and a 510(k)-ready rapid point-of-care diagnostic tool to address drug-resistant fungal pathogens.
• Metropolitan Anti-Viral Drug Accelerator (MAVDA) Dedicated to conducting innovative, multidisciplinary research to develop, optimize, and test innovative small molecule antiviral drugs targeting coronaviruses (such as SARS-CoV-2) and other viral families with high pandemic potential.
• Core Facilities and Resources State-of-the-art research infrastructure including ABSL3 and Animal Models, Bioinformatics, Biorepository, Clinical Immunology, Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Flow Cytometry, Genomics and Epigenomics, Grant and Manuscript Editing, Mass Spectrometry, Microscopy and Imaging, Translational Research Office, and Virology cores.
• Summer Research Scholar Program An immersive academic research program offering comprehensive training to approximately 40 individuals annually, providing hands-on research experience, mentorship, career exploration, and direct contributions to ongoing research projects across focus areas including infectious diseases, cancer, immunology, and neurocognitive health.
• Residency Research Rotation An immersive, mentored translational research elective for PGY-2 residents offering hands-on experience with CDI faculty across cancer, infectious diseases, immunology, and behavioral/neurocognitive health research areas, with structured seminars, mentorship, and biostatistics support.
• Hands-On Workshop Series for High School Students An educational initiative inviting NJ high school students to participate in interactive presentations, hands-on experiments in real lab spaces, career readiness sessions, and mentorship opportunities with scientists and healthcare professionals, aimed at inspiring future careers in science and healthcare.
• Intellectual Property, Licensing and Partnerships Office of Innovation and Commercialization providing support for invention disclosure, patent application management, industry partnerships, new venture formation, licensing agreements, and royalty monitoring to advance CDI innovations to the marketplace.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,500+ peer-reviewed publications in leading journals
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• John Theurer Cancer CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenowned as one of NJ's leading cancer centers and largest comprehensive cancer facility, committed to the entire spectrum of cancer care including diagnosis, treatment, research, screening, prevention, and survivorship. Forms part of Georgetown University's NCI-designated Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.
• Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCI-designated comprehensive cancer center since 1974, the only such center in the Washington D.C. area. Approved as consortium center with fully integrated cancer research enterprise including CDI and John Theurer Cancer Center scientists and clinicians.
• New York Genome CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHMH and CDI joined as institutional associate members to advance understanding of host genetics for oncology, neuropsychiatric behavioral disorders, and emerging infectious diseases like COVID-19.
• Hackensack Meridian School of MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical school admitting first students in 2018 with unique curriculum featuring basic science in clinical context. Located on same campus with CDI faculty teaching courses and participating in research.
• Hackensack Meridian Health Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of research across New Jersey's largest health network including 18 regional hospitals. Leads connected ecosystem bringing together clinicians, scientists, and educators to address health problems in real-time.
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership with CDI on development of Transmission Simulation System (TSS) for studying TB transmission with unprecedented realism and precision.
• Weill Cornell MedicinemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership with CDI on development of Transmission Simulation System (TSS) for studying TB transmission with unprecedented realism and precision.
• Quest DiagnosticsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational surveillance collaboration with CDI identifying reservoirs of drug-resistant germs. Partnership enables study finding multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae spreading across U.S. communities.
• Pharmaceutical Industry PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic academic-industry partnerships for drug discovery programs aimed at delivering multiple investigational new drugs (INDs) ready for clinical evaluation.
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)coreOthersFederal funding agency supporting CDI research programs including antibiotic discovery, TB transmission studies, and antifungal drug development through multiple grant programs.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wistar Institute: The Wistar Institute is an independent nonprofit biomedical research institute with strong programs in immunology, infectious disease, and cancer. Like CDI, it combines basic research with translational drug discovery and operates without commercial product sales.
• Salk Institute for Biological Studies: The Salk Institute is a nonprofit biological research institute conducting fundamental research in cancer, immunology, and neuroscience. Comparable to CDI as an academic biomedical research organization, though Salk focuses more on basic discovery than drug development.
• Scripps Research Institute: Scripps Research is a leading nonprofit biomedical research institute conducting fundamental research and translational drug discovery, with deep expertise in infectious disease, immunology, and chemistry. It is comparable to CDI as an academic drug discovery organization, though at a much larger scale.
• Allen Institute: The Allen Institute is a nonprofit medical research organization conducting large-scale science with a translational focus on brain science and cell biology. Comparable to CDI as a nonprofit research enterprise with a translational mandate, though it is disease-area focused rather than drug-discovery focused.
• Jackson Laboratory: Jackson Laboratory is an independent nonprofit biomedical research institute specializing in mammalian genetics and human genomics to advance precision medicine. Comparable to CDI for its nonprofit research model and translational orientation, though it focuses on genomics rather than drug discovery accelerators.
• Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is a nonprofit research and education institution focused on cancer biology, neuroscience, and genomics. It is comparable as an academic research institute pursuing fundamental discoveries with translational application, though without CDI's hospital-network clinical integration.
• Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard: The Broad Institute is a nonprofit research organization encompassing MIT and Harvard, conducting large-scale genomic and translational research including infectious disease programs. CDI collaborates with MIT on the TSS platform, and both serve as academic biomedical research hubs with similar funding models.
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Memorial Sloan Kettering is a leading academic cancer research and treatment center, comparable to CDI's oncology-focused institutes (CPPCI, iMML) and NCI-designated consortium partners. CDI's CPPCI director was recruited directly from MSKCC.

Broad incumbents

• Genentech (Roche): Genentech, part of the Roche Group, is a biotechnology leader in oncology and infectious disease therapeutics with deep translational research capabilities. Comparable to CDI in translational research intensity but operates as a large commercial pharmaceutical company with substantially greater resources. CDI is located on the former Hoffmann-La Roche campus where Genentech's parent originated.
• Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Regeneron is a major biotechnology company with deep translational research roots, antibody platforms, and a robust pipeline in infectious disease and oncology. Comparable as a translational research organization but operates as a profitable commercial entity rather than a nonprofit institute.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=wLRaMLfghGQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-for-discovery-and-innovation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Center for Discovery and Innovation