The Tampa Medical & Research District (TMRD) brings clinical care, life sciences, AI, and defense together in one coordinated environment. Through partnerships across healthcare, academia and the public and private sectors, it gives startups and established institutions the support, infrastructure and alignment they need to move ideas from discovery to real-world impact.
Anchored by Tampa General Hospital, the University of South Florida, and the University of Tampa—and supported by a broader network of civic and economic partners—the district reflects a shared belief: progress accelerates when institutions move together.
Jennifer Crabtree,
President 
Jennifer Crabtree serves as President of the Tampa Medical & Research District (TMRD) and Senior Vice President at Tampa General Hospital. She leads the strategic vision and development of the TMRD — a health innovation district designed to accelerate breakthroughs, drive economic growth, and foster collaboration.
Q&A with Jennifer Crabtree
The Tampa Medical & Research District has become one of the most buzz-worthy emerging life sciences ecosystems in the Southeast. Looking back to its launch three years ago, what early accomplishments are you most proud of?
When I look back at the last few years, what I’m most proud of is how we’ve taken what could have stayed just an idea and set the foundation for a growing health innovation district.
It really started with the strength of the Tampa General and USF Health partnership and building on those assets right here in the urban core of the city. Now, with the University of Tampa also serving as an anchor, we’ve created something pretty unique – a place where clinical care, life sciences, AI, and even defense can come together in a coordinated way.
You can see that momentum reflected in the market. Today, more than 20% of Florida’s life sciences workforce is based in the Tampa metro area. We have over 200 physician investigators and more than 800 active clinical trials. And we’re attracting companies like Palantir, GE HealthCare, RFID Discovery, Catalent, and Versea Health—many of which are actively working alongside our clinical and academic partners.
A big part of that progress has been the alignment we’ve built across the region. Our advisory committee and board have really helped us define the strategy and set us up for success.
So for me, the real accomplishment so far has been laying the foundation and creating the infrastructure of an environment where strong institutions are working together in sync. This has allowed for the district to attract talent, attract businesses, and attract capital…and we are just getting started.
The TMRD brings together major institutions including Tampa General Hospital, USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and other academic, biotech and innovation partners. What have you learned about building collaboration across so many different sectors, and why is that collaboration so important to Tampa’s future?
One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned is that it’s not just about proximity, it’s about how you actually work together.
From the beginning, we’ve been very intentional about building a model that isn’t defined by any one institution, but by how institutions collaborate and build on each other. That’s what allows research, validation, and commercialization to move faster and have more impact.
Tampa has all the right pieces, but without real coordination, we won’t fully realize the opportunity. By operating as a unified platform, we’ve strengthened our value proposition for talent, companies, and investors, and that’s what allows us to compete on a national stage.
What are the TMRD’s biggest priorities over the next two to three years?
As we look ahead, the focus is really on scaling what we’ve built and doing it in a way that’s visible, connected, and competitive nationally.
Now that we’ve completed a full rebrand to better reflect our vision, we’re leaning into placemaking and physical infrastructure. That means creating a more defined district experience, including a clear “front door” or central hub for the TMRD. We’re also working closely with development partners to make sure we’re part of the broader conversation shaping Tampa’s growth, so the district becomes a core part of what the future of the city looks like.
At the same time, we’ll continue strengthening the innovation engine through our support of the startup community, expanding commercialization pathways, and creating more intentional soft-landing opportunities for companies entering the market.
We’re also leaning into areas where Tampa has a real competitive edge, like medtech and dual-use innovation, especially with assets like MacDill Air Force Base nearby. And throughout all of this, talent remains central. We will continue building pipelines with our academic partners and activating the district through programming and partnerships.
How do you see the TMRD helping to accelerate the translation of medical discoveries into better care, better technology and better health outcomes for the community?
At its core, the TMRD is about shortening the distance between discovery and real-world impact.
By bringing research, clinical care, and commercialization closer together—and allowing them to move in parallel—we can accelerate both speed and outcomes. Physicians, researchers, and industry partners are working side by side, which creates a real-time feedback loop where ideas can be tested, refined, and adopted much more quickly.
We’re also making it easier for companies to engage earlier in the process, so promising innovations can move into practice faster, and ultimately improve care and outcomes for the community.
When you think about the long-term future of the TMRD, what is your vision for what Tampa could become nationally or globally in healthcare, biotechnology and medical research over the next decade?
Our long-term vision is about a more connected Tampa where collaboration drives innovation and meaningful economic growth.
A lot of regions are built institution by institution. What we’re doing is different. We’re building an ecosystem where those institutions work together in a much more intentional way, which allows innovation to move more quickly from discovery to impact.
Success for us will show up in scale and output: more clinical trials, increased research funding, more startups, and more companies choosing Tampa as their home base.
Ultimately, it’s about Tampa being part of the national and global conversation, not because we’re trying to replicate other markets, but because we’ve built something that’s more connected, more collaborative, and able to translate innovation into impact at speed.
