Continuing a commitment to Irvine’s long-term economic success, the Irvine City Council recently approved a blueprint to guide the city’s economic development efforts and lay the groundwork for the launch of the Irvine Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
The center will establish Irvine as a premier destination for pediatric healthcare innovation by uniting pediatric clinicians, researchers, technology developers, and funding organizations while fast-tracking the development of early-stage medical solutions for children.
The center will aim to remove obstacles that prevent innovation in pediatric healthcare and broaden availability of funding opportunities, specialized training programs, and scientific expertise for those committed to improving outcomes for young patients.
Letters of support
The initiative received staunch support from researchers and physicians at CHOC, part of Rady Children’s Health, who submitted letters advocating for a dedicated pediatric medical technology focus within the hub.
“Congratulations to the City of Irvine,” CHOC Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Terence Sanger said. “This blueprint prioritizes growth of Irvine’s innovation ecosystem and workforce and talent pipeline development that will also serve pediatric research and innovation. As a CHOC physician and professor of electrical engineering and computer Science at UCI, I look forward to supporting these initiatives.”
The Economic Development Division Blueprint for 2026-2028 defines the mission, vision, and core responsibilities of the Economic Development division, positioning it as the centralized leader for previously fragmented activities.
The Irvine Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship is envisioned as a catalytic platform for inclusive economic growth and innovation. It will serve as Irvine’s front door to the innovation economy and will connect entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem partners; accelerate early-stage venture development; reduce barriers to innovation-driven entrepreneurship; and expand access to capital, education, and technical resources.
A critical need
Leading CHOC physicians and researchers highlight the critical need for pediatric-focused medical technology innovation.
“Every day, I meet families who wait, sometimes for years, for medical technologies that could change their child’s life,” said pediatric gastroenterologist Dr. Ashish Chogle, division chief and medical director of pediatric gastroenterology at CHOC. “The innovation center will create a much-needed pipeline from bedside to breakthrough, helping clinicians like me work with innovators to develop pediatric-specific tools, from better monitoring devices to advanced diagnostic algorithms.”
Dr. Steven Martel, vice president and chief health information officer for Orange County, emphasized the transformative potential of combining pediatric care with advanced technology.
“When pediatric care is combined with advanced analytics and digital health, we gain the ability to detect disease earlier, personalize treatments, reduce unnecessary hospitalizations, and support families beyond the walls of the hospital,” Dr. Martel said. “By making pediatrics a cornerstone of our MedTech strategy, this county can lead not only in innovation, but in what truly matters: giving every child the best possible chance at a healthy, thriving future.”
Dr. Sharief Taraman, a pediatric neurologist and founder with extensive involvement in Orange County medical and educational institutions, underscored the infrastructure’s importance for regional advancement.
“As a neurologist and founder who has been an active member in O.C. and Irvine, I recognize this infrastructure is essential for our families and will accelerate development of desperately needed pediatric and neurologic solutions,” Dr. Taraman said. “This will enable collaboration between clinicians who understand pediatric data and data scientists who can build sophisticated analytical tools.”
Long-term benefits
The medical community’s letters of support highlighted how the innovation hub will foster collaboration between clinical experts and technology developers, accelerating the development of advanced diagnostic tools, wearable health monitoring technologies, and machine-learning models for early disease detection in pediatric populations.
“It was an honor to speak to the City of Irvine Council members and the leaders of Irvine’s economic development team,” said Nadine Afari, research manager at CHOC and UCI. “I look forward to collaborating to build this infrastructure and provide resources for pediatric founders to benefit our community’s children and families.”
Irvine Mayor Larry Agran said the blueprint and the Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship will strengthen the city’s position as a leading innovation hub, while driving long-term job creation and economic growth.
“I’m excited to see what comes of this as we look ahead to the future,” Agran said.
Frances Richmond, PhD, professor emerita, regulatory and clinical sciences, USC, said she and her colleagues are excited to work with Dr. Sanger and his colleagues to build on the already strong position of Orange County in pediatric medical innovation.
“Strong pediatric regulatory frameworks drive innovation tailored to children’s health needs while maintaining rigorous safety standards, ultimately improving health outcomes for our youngest and most vulnerable population,” Richmond said. “I’m so pleased to see that the City of Irvine is already recognizing the importance of supporting the growth of the med-tech sector, which is already important to the prosperity and reputation of Orange County.”
Learn about pediatric research and clinical trials at CHOC
