OHSU was sought out and invited to apply for these funds by the state of Florida. OHSU is honored to be among an elite group of internationally-regarded institutions such as the Scripps Research Institute, the Burnham Institute for Medical Research, the Stanford Research Institute and the Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies in San Diego to be asked to form facilities in Florida. OHSU decided to apply for these funds because of the tremendous need for expanded research on infectious diseases which threaten the health of all Americans. For example, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 36,000 people die each from the flu alone.
$60 million of Florida’s state budget has already been earmarked for the formation of this facility. The City of Port St. Lucie has committed to provide an additional $53 million of infrastructure expenditures for the project. Further contract negotiations will begin almost immediately with the goal of finalizing all construction agreements and funding agreements with the state and local participants in Florida.
How will the state of Oregon benefit of this research facility is built?
Oregon residents will benefit from the research aimed at protecting the population against infectious diseases. We will also benefit in the form of increased access to additional clinical trials which will occur as OHSU expands it’s collaboration with the other Florida-based institutes. In addition, as a result of the creation of this new institute and new partnerships, the national recognition of OHSU will increase. This will lead to new opportunities and perhaps increased philanthropy, meaning more OHSU services and facilities for Oregonians.
The most successful research ventures are often conducted through partnerships with other institutions. This new facility will be placed in close proximity to a number of other highly regarded research centers such as the University of Florida and the Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, where collaboration will be highly sought out. Past experience has shown that proximity is one of the main factors in promoting these partnerships.
All funds for the institute will come from the state of Florida and from research grants and contracts. The primary funds, Florida’s $60 million investment, come from the Florida Innovation Incentive Fund which was established by the Florida Legislature in 2006 to fuel economic development.
Florida’s funds will pay for the formation of the facility, the recruitment of researchers and the purchase of research equipment. Initially, the institute will reside within Torrey Pines’ Florida facility.
The main source of research funding for the center will likely be provided by the National Institutes of Health in the form of research grants. The NIH is the largest public funding agency for health studies in the United States. Additional funding from private companies is also expected.
Did the Oregon Opportunity have a role in this venture?
No and yes. No Oregon Opportunity funds will be spent on the new institute in Florida. However the recruitment of world-class researchers to OHSU and the growth in research dollars attributed to the Oregon Opportunity certainly played an important role in establishing OHSU as a nationally-recognized research institution. This national recognition along with our research success clearly resulted in the invitation to apply for these funds.
Will any Oregon taxpayer funds be spent on the institute?
No. Oregon taxpayer dollars will not fund the construction or operation of the Florida research institute. However, initially some OHSU staff time will be required in order to locate and recruit a director and scientists for the new institute.
OTRADI, which stands for the Oregon Research and Drug Development Institute, was established by the state of Oregon to assist Oregon universities in further developing infectious disease medications by providing the equipment and expertise that has to this point, not existed in Oregon. It is expected that OTRADI will work closely with the new research institute in Florida.
Florida residents will also benefit from the research that will be conducted at this institute. Also, for the past few years, Florida has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in expanding research and biotechnology in the state. By spending the dollars to construct an OHSU research institute in Florida, the state hopes to create jobs and create a biotech research nucleus in the state.
Will OHSU researchers or resources be leaving the state?
No. The specialized research institute will have its own dedicated staff. Meanwhile, OHSU’s VGTI in Beaverton will continue to expand upon its successful research.
Does this project signal a shift in OHSU’s priorities to help expand research which in turn expands Oregon’s biotech industry?
No. Expanding research and generating breakthroughs in Oregon remain a top priority for OHSU. To illustrate that point: OHSU’s School of Medicine research is now ranked 19th in the nation, up from 24th, despite stiff competition and the flat lining of the NIH budget. Also, since 2000 OHSU research has generated 28 spinoff companies, most of which exist within the state of Oregon.
