Medical Innovation Start-up Studio launched by Intermed Labs, Mon Health System

A first-of-its-kind medical technology start-up studio serving North Central West Virginia entrepreneurs is being launched by Intermed Labs LLC, a local med tech incubator, and Mon Health System.

Intermed Labs at Mon Health LLC will open the door for transformational innovation and jobs creation in healthcare using development and commercialization strategies from traditional technology hubs like Silicon Valley.

"Our local medical talent is as good as anywhere in the country and this niche local infrastructure will greatly increase the chance of success when getting med tech ideas off the ground," said Dr. Tom McClellan, co-founder of the venture along with Ashok Aggarwal and Dr. Justin Chambers. "Entrepreneurs who have innovative ideas to advance the future of healthcare will now have a space at Mon Health and a world-class team to build, prototype and grow those ideas."

David Goldberg, President & CEO of Mon Health, said the health system has a history of supporting medical innovation. In the last five years alone, Mon Health has helped launch three new medical devices. He said the system’s Board of Directors enthusiastically endorses the start-up studio idea and the economic impact this brings to the region today and into the future.

"As a nationally recognized, independent community health system, Mon Health is perfectly positioned to team up with local medical, engineering and other business talent to create an environment for entrepreneurship to advance and improve health outcomes," said Goldberg. "In medicine, there is a difficult process of translation where a product must move from idea to the bench and finally to the patient. A community system with hospitals and ambulatory sites, with its strong tradition of patient-centered care, like Mon Health, is ideal for medical innovation like this to have various platforms to test concepts. This studio fulfills our mission to focus on and serve the citizens of West Virginia and look to collaborate with all our academic and research organizations to ensure we are broad based in potential opportunities from bench to patient."

Goldberg and McClellan said Intermed Labs at Mon Health LLC – the first public/private partnership of its kind in West Virginia – will immediately improve the ecosystem for innovation in the regional community. The venture already has several ideas in the proof-of-concept stage.

"For the last two years, we have had a team in place building prototypes, testing, publishing and presenting ideas to improve the human condition," said McClellan. "We are thrilled to have a committed partnership with Mon Health and recognize that quality of care will be improved primarily through advancements in medical technology."