All across the Commonwealth of Virginia, biomedical innovators are pursuing a shared passion to help their fellow citizens live longer, healthier lives. These dedicated researchers, in nearly 200 biotechnology and medical device firms clustered around research universities such as the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, George Mason University and Virginia Tech, are expanding the frontiers of modern medicine. They are pioneering new drugs, more effective therapeutics and life-saving medical devices. According to a new study by Miami-based Archstone Consulting, there were more than 1,500 active clinical trails conducted last year by Virginia researchers on new drugs, including those targeting cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, mental health disorders and respiratory diseases.
In addition to the National Science Foundation (NSF) and biopharma companies with facilities in Virginia such as Pfizer, Merck, Novozymes, Abbott Laboratories, Boehringer Ingelheim, Teva Pharmaceuticals, ATCC and SRI International, the Commonwealth is also home to one of the most advanced bioscience research institutes in the world. The Janelia Farm Research Campus of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) opened in October 2006. Located on a 689-acre (279-hectare) property in Northern Virginia, the unique, world-class biomedical research complex represents a $500-million investment by HHMI, one of the largest biomedical research philanthropies in the world. Several hundred of the world's top researchers from diverse disciplines use emerging and innovative technologies to pursue biology's most challenging problems.
To read the full, original article click on this link: Commentary: Building On a Firm Foundation: A new R&D tax credit, among other programs and projects, could help Virginia reach the upper echelon of life sciences states.
Author: MARK A. HERZOG
