Governor Patrick Announces Major Grant for Life Sciences Projects
Friday, June 07, 2013
Governor Deval Patrick and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) has announced over $100 million in grants for life-sciences-related capital projects in Massachusetts, including $95 million for the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Amherst and $5.5 million for the Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute (PVLSI), a joint venture of Baystate Medical Center in Springfield and UMass Amherst.
“Our Life Sciences strategy is about choosing to shape our future – investing today to leave a better Commonwealth for the next generation,” said Governor Patrick. “These investments support the kind of innovation that propels our economy forward and prepares our citizens for the 21st century global marketplace.”
Through the MLSC, Massachusetts is investing $1 billion over 10 years in the growth of the state’s life sciences supercluster. These investments are being made under the Massachusetts Life Sciences Initiative, passed by the state Legislature and signed into law by Governor Patrick in 2008.
“A key strategy of the Life Sciences Center is to use our capital dollars to accelerate life sciences-driven economic development across the Commonwealth by engaging and building on regional strengths,” said Dr. Susan Windham-Bannister, Ph.D., President and CEO of the MLSC.
The UMass Amherst Grant
The grant for UMass Amherst will fund construction to fit out and equip a substantial portion of the university’s new $157-million Life Sciences Laboratories. This building will house three new research centers (Personalized Health Monitoring, Bioactive Delivery, and Models to Medicine) led by faculty and will be dedicated to partnering with regional life sciences and precision manufacturing companies to develop innovative products and services.
“This investment is an outstanding example of how world-class research at UMass, with support from the MLSC, can create a dynamic and prosperous future for the Commonwealth,” said Robert Caret, president of the University of Massachusetts. “The development of three new research centers in partnership with industry will enhance technology transfer and translate inventions into products and services that will make life better for all of us.”
“We are grateful to the MLSC for selecting UMass Amherst to be a catalyst for new advances in the life sciences,” said UMass Amherst Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy. “This grant positions us for new directions in translational research and for increased engagement with industry and other educational institutions in western Massachusetts and throughout the Commonwealth. UMass is committed to growing these relationships to advance economic development as part of our land grant mission.”
The PVLSI Grant
The grant for PVLSI, located adjacent to Baystate Medical Center’s main campus in Springfield’s North End, will support the development of a new Center of Innovation in Health Informatics and Technology, focused on advancing public/private-sector partnerships and incubating innovative technology solutions developed by start-ups and larger, more established vendor firms in areas such as population health management, health care quality, “big data” analytics and mobile health.
“The assets we have in place in Springfield—beginning with a strong integrated health system in Baystate Health, and extending to the Pioneer Valley’s advanced high-tech manufacturing capabilities—provide a unique opportunity for our prospective start-up and vendor partners to accelerate and incubate their products here in western Massachusetts, benefiting our community’s health care and economy,” said Joel Vengco, vice president and chief information officer of Baystate Health.
Praise from Politicians
“As a champion of the life sciences industry for nearly two decades, I am thrilled with today's announcement. In my opinion, the expansion of research and development in the field of the life sciences can improve the quality of health care, grow the economy and create jobs in the Pioneer Valley. These two major grants can be game changers for the life sciences and biotechnology communities in western Massachusetts,” said Congressman Richard E. Neal.
“The ripple effects of these investments will be enormously positive for western Massachusetts,” Massachusetts State Senate Majority Leader Stan Rosenberg said. “Not only will this funding help place our flagship campus exactly where it needs to be -- at the vanguard of life sciences research and development -- it will also help create good jobs and technological innovations that we can scarcely imagine today. This project, which is engaging the best and brightest from academia, government and the private sector, is an outstanding example of what can be accomplished when we work together in a spirit of partnership.”
For more information please visit www.masslifesciences.com.
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