$20M 'Pandemic Response Institute' Coming To NYC In 2021

NEW YORK CITY — Hard-earned lessons from the coronavirus pandemic will form the foundation of a new health institute in the city.

Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday announced the creation of the Pandemic Response Institute.

The $20 million center is planned to open in 2021 at the Alexandria Center for Life Science, where the city recently put up its Pandemic Response Lab — a hub that processes 20,000 coronavirus tests a day.

De Blasio said the lab's speedy creation and other public health steps showed what makes New York City "irreplaceable" in the national and global context.

He called the planned institute the "next step" toward protecting the city — and beyond — from future pandemics.

"Now that we know the depth of the challenge, we can get ahead of it," he said.

The announcement builds off de Blasio's previous pledge to turn New York City into a global health leader. When he presented that vision in September, many critics pointed out it lacked details.

The Pandemic Response Institute announcement still lacked many details, but represented more of a firm goal.

Jay Varma, the city's senior health advisor, presented the steps of the process going forward.

The city will support the institute's initial home at the Alexandria Center for Life Science, Varma said. He said officials will meet with public health experts next month to develop a strategy and focus for the institute and cast out a request for partners to run it.

Officials plan to open the institute in late 2021, according to a release.

Much of the groundwork has already been broken by the Pandemic Response Lab, Varma said.

The lab has been the "key" to unlocking the city's Test and Trace Corps and the safe reopening of city schools, he said.

"The Pandemic Response Institute is an opportunity to expand beyond laboratory work into training, research, innovation — into all the areas we know are important for outbreaks... detection, investigation, management," he said. "This will position the city as a leader in pandemic response and strengthen our infrastructure for future outbreaks."