Tampa, FL (November 17 2006) - The Florida Technology, Research and Scholarship Board awarded the University of South Florida $8 million, ranking first among six grant recipients, to create the Florida Center of Excellence for Biomolecular Identification and Targeted Therapeutics.  This Center, which has the potential to change how illness and disease is detected and treated, is a true community/business partnership involving collaboration between several departments within the University as well as organizations throughout the region including Hillsborough County, the City of Tampa, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, St. Petersburg College and Hillsborough Community College.  Also involved is Biovest International, a Massachusetts based company recognized as a world-leader in the biotechnology industry.  The USF project’s four co-principal investigators are Daniel Lim, PhD; Biology; Ed Turos, PhD, Chemistry; Peter Stroot, PhD, Engineering, and Richard Heller, PhD, Molecular Medicine.    

The Florida Center of Excellence for Biomolecular Identification and Targeted Therapeutics was proposed under the direction and leadership of USF President Judy Genshaft.  A total of 32 proposals from colleges and medical centers throughout Florida vied for $30 million in state money, with six proposals being selected for funding.  USF’s Center for Biomolecular Identification and Targeted Therapeutics proposal ranked highest and received the greatest amount of funding at $8 million with the second receiving $5 million.  

“This proposal demonstrates my continued commitment to supporting multidisciplinary projects with partners from both the private and public sector,” said Genshaft.  “Our Center of Excellence will support and strengthen ongoing research efforts at USF and create exciting new partnerships.  I am proud of our team and look forward to seeing the fruits of our labor pay off for the region, the nation and the world.” 

The goal of the Center is to stimulate growth in the biotechnology industry throughout Florida, which currently ranks 10th in the nation.  The Center will integrate biomolecular identification technologies to respond to and treat biological threats and then translate these technologies into commercial products which will benefit the environment and public health.  The Center will use an innovative approach following a discovery, development and commercialization model.  It will not only discover how to detect and diagnose human illness and disease but then focus on developing new methods of treatment and prevention and then commercialize these products.

USF has been strategically investing in the biotechnology industry over the past five years dedicating $80 million to the physical infrastructure at USF, which includes the creation of the USF Research Park, $5 million for 15 new biotechnology faculty and committing $3 million over the next two years to the education of future biotechnology professionals. 

“The benefit to our community and the region can not be understated,” said Genshaft.  “Not only has $39 million in matching support been committed to the Center, but the return on this investment includes the creation of 400 new biotechnology jobs, $84 million in direct wages and an estimated economic impact of over $188 million.”

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