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At the 2023 Crain’s Life Sciences Forum on March 29, a panel of leaders including Dean Ayman El-Mohandes discussed the goals and challenges currently facing the life sciences sector.
Dean El-Mohandes noted that the high cost of living and lack of affordable housing in New York City present a barrier for schools to support students and attract top-notch faculty.
More housing is essential for advancing the industry, he continued, as is addressing the obstacles faced by students in their efforts to succeed academically. For example, during the pandemic, CUNY lent 50,000 laptops to students—but many lacked stable internet connections in their homes.
Despite the obstacles, the dean was hopeful about the future of the industry. As long as there is talent and facilities, life sciences will continue to gain momentum.
SPARC will generate approximately $25 billion in economic impact to the city over the next 30 years, create 10,000 jobs and create a pipeline from local public schools to careers in the growing and essential fields of life sciences, health care, and public health.
