Northwell Health's Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and United Therapeutics Corporation (UTHR) have announced a strategic partnership focused on the application of bioelectronic medicine and cell therapy to cardiology, hypertension and post-transplant tolerance induction.

"We are truly honored to work with the pioneers of these next generation medical technologies," said Martine Rothblatt, Ph.D., United Therapeutics' chairman and chief executive officer.  "We expect a great fit with our clinical development pipeline in heart failure, pulmonary disease and transplantation."

"Collaboration is the indispensable factor in successful medical research," said Kevin J. Tracey, managing director, president and chief executive officer of the Feinstein Institute. "With great partners, you can accomplish great things for science and for patients. United Therapeutics is such a partner, we share their aims and their values, and we could not be more pleased than to join with them in this effort."

Under the strategic partnership, United Therapeutics will fund Northwell's efforts in four research and development tracks, while United Therapeutics will bring the results into clinical development.  The two organizations are working toward the goal of initial regulatory approvals within five years.

Two of the research projects will be conducted by the Feinstein Institute's Center for Bioelectronic Medicine (CBEM). The Feinstein Institute is the worldwide leader for the advancement of scientific knowledge and intellectual property for the rapidly emerging field of bioelectronic medicine.  Bioelectronic medicine represents the convergence of three well-established scientific fields: neuroscience, molecular and cell biology, and bioengineering.  The Feinstein Institute team, led by Dr. Tracey, a neurosurgeon who pioneered the field, has been working in this area since 1998, and Northwell Health has already invested $ 75 million in support of the underlying research.  As bioelectronic solutions are successfully identified, tested and refined, CBEM will foster the creation of new companies to bring life-changing solutions to market.