Center for Device Innovation

Accelerating Innovation

The Center for Device Innovation at Texas Medical Center (CDI @ TMC) was founded in 2017 with the mission to significantly impact healthcare by accelerating the development of breakthrough medical technologies.  As a collaboration between Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, and the Texas Medical Center, CDI @ TMC is a unique hybrid model for innovation that leverages the great resources of these larger enterprises, but with the speed and agility of an entrepreneurial start-up environment.  The focus is on early-stage concepts with high technical risk, rapidly developing and testing new devices to prove feasibility with faster timelines and capital efficiency.  Technologies that have been successfully de-risked can move into a commercialization pathway within Johnson & Johnson or spin out into a new company.

​Facilities & Resources

• 25,000 sq. ft. maker space designed for device development
• Full machine shop with advanced prototyping equipment
• 60 work benches with private access configurations
• Separate lab / office space for companies in residence
• Dedicated labs for tissue testing, chemistry and electronics / mechanical testing
• 12 private offices and 24 open workstations
• VR system and visualization space
• 2 conference rooms
• Café space

Hybrid Approach

CDI @ TMC has a hybrid portfolio that includes both internal technology projects as well as start-up companies in residence.  The development team has flexibility to engage in new opportunities across a spectrum of different services and needs, including: independent development, collaborative co-development, machining / prototyping services, pre-clinical testing, manufacturing design, and strategic advising.  The current portfolio includes a broad range of initiatives across various clinical spaces and technology platforms aligned with J&J’s medical device areas of interest:

Investment Criteria

CDI is always looking for new opportunities to fill development pipeline. The main criteria for evaluating any new IDEA:

IMPACT - significant value proposition for patients / healthcare and market opportunity

DIFFERENTIATION - potential advantages of technology and IP relative to competition

ENGAGEMENT - good utilization of the resources and development capabilities at CDI

ALIGNMENT - clear fit with J&J's areas of interest and longer-term strategy

CDI @ TMC has a dynamic team with a proven track record of success in the medical device industry, and a wide range of expertise and capabilities for front-end development.

The Texas Medical Center is the largest medical complex in the world, with 60+ member institutions and over 106,000 employees on a 50 million sq. ft. campus.  Each year, the TMC has more 10 million total patient visits, 750,000 ER visits, and 180,000 surgical procedures performed.  With these expansive resources in such proximity, CDI @ TMC has access to a broad range of pre-clinical and clinical facilities for testing and feedback to accelerate development.  CDI @ TMC has established partnerships with several institutions to leverage these resources of the Houston ecosystem.