The 95,000-square-foot Midtown Collaboration Center opened at Euclid Avenue and East 66th Street in May 2025 and is nearly full. The addition of NEOMED here will further boost its diverse offering of innovative, community-building tenants (Cleveland Foundation). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.
Healthcare innovation hub due in summer
Another healthcare innovator is about to call Cleveland home. But this time it’s a healthcare change agent that’s been in Northeast Ohio for more than 50 years.
The Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) announced that it is opening this summer what it calls a “healthcare innovation hub” at the Midtown Collaboration Center (MCC), located at 1974 E. 66th St. on Euclid Ave. in Cleveland’s Hough neighborhood.
According to city Building Department records, NEOMED will spend $1.58 million to renovate and retrofit an 8,000-square-foot space at the three-story, 95,000-square-foot building that opened in May 2025.
Cleveland-based architectural firm Vocon Partners LLC is providing programming and design services for NEOMED’s improvements within the MCC. The Cleveland Foundation built and owns the center which includes offices, labs and two restaurants. The foundation’s new headquarters are next door, with more development planned.
NEOMED President Dr. John Langell confirmed the new hub in an e-mail to NEOtrans, saying it was a logical decision considering Cleveland’s growing prominence in the healthcare field.
Front desk at the Midtown Collaboration Center where NEOMED will soon call home for its healthcare innovation hub. NEOMED says the hub is due to open this summer after interior renovations are completed (NEOtrans).
“As Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) continues to grow its service to the Greater Cleveland region, we felt it was essential for the university to establish a presence aligned with Cleveland Foundation’s vision to transform the Midtown Health Tech Corridor,” Langell said.
A specific opening date for NEOMED’s healthcare innovation hub isn’t yet available as building permit applications were submitted to the city by Vocon this past week. Renovations work hasn’t yet started. What is a healthcare innovation hub?
“Our new space at MCC will serve as a platform to enhance and expand NEOvations Bench to Bedside, NEOMED’s medical innovation and commercialization program, and house our partnership programs with University Hospitals focused on artificial intelligence in health care and initiatives dedicated to improving maternal and child health,” Langell added.
In addition, he said NEOMED plans to use the site to deliver its executive education programs, including Lean Six Sigma in Healthcare, the Fellowships in Academic Medical Excellence in Research and in Education, the Fellowship in Innovation-Research, and Entrepreneurship, among other advanced professional development offerings.
“Given the amazing organizations already making the MCC their home, we are excited to become part of this vibrant community of innovation,” Langell continued. “It’s a perfect fit for NEOMED.”
Welcoming public spaces exist between the Cleveland Foundation’s headquarters at left and the Midtown Collaboration Center at right. In between is East 66th Street which is about to get rebuilt north of here into Hough (NEOtrans).
As of last summer, MCC tenants included Case Western’s Population Health Research Center, University Hospital’s Diabetes Research Center, the Cleveland Institute of Art’s Media Lab, Hyland Software Training Center, JumpStart offices, ECDI-SBA Lending Center, Black Frog Brewery, Pearl’s Kitchen, and a music venue.
NEOMED was founded in 1973 by Kent State University, University of Akron, and Youngstown State University to develop a medical school at a location that was central to all three institutions, in Rootstown in Portage County. It later gained affiliations with Cleveland State University and Hiram College.
NEOMED has four colleges — in medicine, pharmacy, dentistry and graduate studies — and offers Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Pharmacy and Doctor of Dental Surgery degrees, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees.
Its enrollment in the fall of 2025 was 1,032 students. The university has an academic staff of 96 and an administration staff of 404 people. But its presence in Cleveland, a healthcare powerhouse, has been minimal.
“Many of our alumni are already serving Greater Cleveland communities — and many of our students train at world-class Cleveland institutions,” Langell said. “Our presence at the MCC directly aligns with our mission to improve the health of local communities.
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