April 12, 2005

Partnership Leaders Praise Bonding Agreement

Urge support for operational funding

MINNEAPOLIS/ROCHESTER, Minn. -- Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty has signed a bipartisan bonding bill that includes $21.7 million for a three-story laboratory to support medical genomics research.

"This is a great step forward and underscores the broad and bipartisan support we are seeing for genomics research in Minnesota," said Frank Cerra, Senior Vice President for Health Sciences, University of Minnesota Academic Health Center. "We thank Governor Pawlenty and the legislature for their strong support. We hope this momentum and enthusiasm continues."

"This means we will have state-of-the-art facilities to help position Minnesota as a national leader in medical genomics," said Hugh Smith, M.D., chair of the Mayo Clinic Board of Governors.

The two leaders administer the Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics, the statewide initiative designed to stimulate the economy and improve the health of citizens in the state.

Genomics Lab to Become Reality

The sale of bonds approved by the bonding bill will pay for the laboratory addition to the existing Stabile Building in Rochester. Currently neither institution has space remaining in existing labs.

"This addition will house more researchers and provide greater opportunity for our two institutions to join forces to seek new treatments and technologies to fight the diseases that most threaten the people of our state," said Dr. Smith.

"This is great progress," added Dr. Cerra. "Now we must continue to pursue support for the operational funding we need to conduct the Partnership's research on a full scale."

Due to the pressing need for research space and the absence of a bonding bill in 2004, the Partnership has expedited its document preparation for approval by appropriate State offices. It has also prepared for fast track construction, expected to begin in July, with completion expected late in 2006. By adding the laboratory space atop an existing building on Mayo Clinic's Rochester campus, the Partnership will save roughly half the $40 million estimated to build an entirely new building. The space will be owned by the University and maintained by Mayo Clinic.

Operating Funds Still Needed

The Partnership is asking for $70 million over five years ($33 million in the coming biennium) to launch the laboratory infrastructure and greatly expand its research programs. The goal is to conduct fast-track investigations that will attract federal and philanthropic support, corporate investment, start-up firms and generate new jobs. With full funding, moderate estimates show the Partnership will contribute over $300 million to Minnesota's economy and 4,000 jobs in 2010.

The Minnesota Partnership is the highly unique statewide economic initiative that joins the University and Mayo Clinic in collaborative research projects. With initial funding the Partnership successfully launched joint pilot projects on heart disease, obesity, prostate cancer and Alzheimer's disease. In less than six months, the Partnership has generated five research papers, a patent application, two federal grant applications and a joint business office, and has leveraged substantial philanthropic support.

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