Where Medicine Meets Innovation: San Diego’s Life Sciences Advantage
From groundbreaking patents to billion-dollar funding rounds, explore how San Diego's life sciences ecosystem is changing medicine and boosting our economy.
Flask in scientist hand with equipment and science experiments o
When you think about San Diego’s biggest industries, tourism and the military probably come to mind first. But there is another major player that is literally saving lives while pumping billions into our local economy: the life sciences industry.
San Diego has established itself as one of the top life sciences clusters in the entire United States. That’s an impressive company to keep among America’s most innovative regions. But what exactly makes a world-class life sciences hub, and why should San Diegans care?
The Right Mix of Innovation
Creating a top-tier life sciences market isn’t just about having smart people in labs, though San Diego certainly has those. It requires a unique ecosystem where several key ingredients come together:
World-Class Research Institutions: With top universities like UC San Diego ranking #2 nationally for biotech-related degrees and producing nearly 2,000 biological and biomedical science graduates annually, we’re constantly feeding fresh talent into the pipeline.
Substantial Funding: San Diego companies have attracted over $21 billion in venture capital since 2020, plus another $29 billion in post-IPO funding. That’s real money backing real innovation.
NIH Support: Our research institutions receive an average of $1.1 billion annually in National Institutes of Health funding, which shows the quality of research happening locally.
Innovation Output: In 2023 and 2024, San Diego achieved record years for new patents, proving our innovators aren’t just dreaming but creating actual breakthroughs.
The Economic Impact is Significant
The life sciences industry brings substantial economic benefits to our region. It employs over 75,000 people in San Diego, from PhD researchers to manufacturing workers to administrative staff
The industry spans 28.7 million square feet of specialized laboratory and office space throughout the county. From Torrey Pines to Sorrento Mesa, these research facilities are where the future of medicine is being developed.
Beyond the Lab Coat
What makes San Diego special is our collaborative spirit. The region has fostered strong partnerships between universities, hospitals, venture capital firms, and experienced developers who understand the unique needs of life sciences companies.
This ecosystem has created a “blossom effect” where successful companies spin off new startups, creating an expanding network of innovation. It’s why major pharmaceutical companies continue investing billions in our region, viewing San Diego as essential to their long-term strategies.
The life sciences industry represents San Diego’s future: a sustainable, knowledge-based economy that attracts top talent from around the world while improving human health.
JLL is a Fortune 500 global commercial real estate company with deep local expertise in San Diego’s dynamic market. We’ve been named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere for 18 consecutive years. Since 2022, our San Diego team has completed over 1,300 lease transactions totaling 18.1 million square feet and $5 billion in sales, including significant work within the thriving life sciences sector highlighted in this article. Our trusted advisors combine local market knowledge with global resources to help businesses of all sizes navigate real estate decisions, from startups seeking their first office or lab space to established companies planning major expansions. Learn more here.
Most homeowners want two things before they commit to a remodel: a realistic sense of cost and a clear picture of what the finished space will look like. Milan Design + Build helps deliver both through its online remodeling estimator and personalized design consultations, supported by a showroom experience and 3D renderings.
“The online estimate gives homeowners a starting number in about a minute, and the showroom and 3D renderings let them see materials and layouts before anything is built,” says David Noriani, CEO of Milan Design + Build. “Keeping design, permits, and construction with one team helps us manage expectations and keep everyone working toward the same vision.”
Courtesy of Milan Design
Modern design is a particular focus for Milan, with an emphasis on clean lines, natural light, functional layouts, and carefully selected materials. The team adapts each design to the homeowner’s lifestyle and the character of the property. Milan Design + Build combines thoughtful design with construction expertise, creating spaces that are as functional as they are beautiful.
The online estimator covers kitchen remodels, bathroom renovations, full-home remodels, and ADU construction. At Milan’s showroom on Carroll Road, visitors can review real materials, finishes, and design options, meet the design-build team, and discuss project scope, budget, and timing. Consultations can also be held virtually for homeowners who prefer to start remotely.
At Milan Design + Build, one integrated team works on the entire project. Design and construction aren’t divided between separate firms. The process begins with a consultation and feasibility review, followed by design, space planning, and 3D renderings developed from detailed measurements and digital scans. The team also coordinates architectural plans, structural engineering, city approvals, and material selection, with construction overseen by a dedicated project manager.
Homeowners can explore their remodeling options, get an initial estimate, or request a design consultation at MilanBuild.com.
At any given time, there are roughly 200 research investigations and clinical trials being conducted at Scripps Health in as many as 25 medical specialties. Research and patient care go hand-in-hand at Scripps. Those studies can be categorized as clinical trials of a medication or device that are conducted by Scripps physicians and studies designed by Scripps’ physicians and clinicians. Click here to learn about three exciting studies underway at Scripps and the benefits to patients.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
Scripps has recently unveiled new features in the MyScripps patient portal and mobile app to help patients connect with their primary care team and simplify the payment process. Among the recent updates is the addition of primary care E-visits for minor conditions. Patients who have an established primary care physician can schedule an E-visit, complete an online questionnaire and, if needed, send a photo. Their doctor can then advise and prescribe medication, when appropriate. Autopay is also now available through MyScripps. Patients can enable or disable autopay, allowing them to more easily manage payments. Learn more about MyScripps and how it helps patients stay connected here.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
Farrah Adams had a persistent dull ache in her lower back that her massage therapist suggested might be caused by the way she sat or drove. That explanation seemed reasonable, but when coupled with heavy, painful periods led the then 46-year-old to seek answers. When she looks back on it now, she’s beyond grateful she trusted her gut. She made an appointment with a Scripps OB-GYN, who determined she had Stage 3 cervical cancer that had spread to several lymph nodes. Farrah was overwhelmed, but immediately found a “champion” in Scripps Clinic gynecologic oncologist Jo Marie Tran Janco, MD. After undergoing successful treatment at Scripps Cancer Center, Farrah is now using her story to inspire other women to make time for care. Read more of her story here.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
In the last several years, there’s been a surge in FDA approvals for what’s known as oral oncolytics. Oral oncolytics are targeted cancer therapies that come in tablet, capsule or liquid form that patients can take at home, rather than in an infusion clinic. Scripps physicians have seen exponential growth using this approach, with patients citing convenience as a major quality-of-life enhancement in their cancer treatment. This approach also allows treatments to be customized based on specific genetic mutations and a patient’s unique disease biology. Find out more about oral oncolytics here.
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Meet San Diego’s leading healthcare professionals, delivering exceptional medical and dental care through innovation, expertise, and dedication to patients.
Unio Specialty Care is a multi-specialty practice specializing in urology, gastroenterology, and radiation oncology.
Unio’s Radiation Oncology team—Dr. Donald B. Fuller, Dr. Tahir Ijaz, Dr. Reza Shirazi, and Dr. Siavosh Vakilian—combines extensive clinical experience with a commitment to personalized cancer care. The RO team treats cancerous and non-cancerous conditions using precision therapies including SBRT, IGRT, and the CyberKnife® S7 System, the only system of its kind in Southern California. Their expertise spans prostate, breast, lung, gastrointestinal, pancreatic, and central nervous system cancers, as well as low-dose radiotherapy for osteoarthritis.
In 2026, Dr. Shirazi and Dr. Vakilian were recognized as San Diego Top Doctors, joining Dr. Fuller and Dr. Ijaz, who have previously received this distinction.
