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Dr. Timothy Block and his colleagues
are defining a new way of nurturing innovation at the Pennsylvania
Biotechnology Center of Bucks County, a hub of research
and entrepreneurship. The PA Biotech Center recently received
an $815,000 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration
(EDA) to allow intellectuals in government, nonprofit organizations
and industry to road test new biotechnology ideas.
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| The
Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center of Bucks County is
a thriving business incubator that brings together nonprofit
scientists and their commercial colleagues to launch
new ideas and discoveries. |
"Essentially, these scientists
will take a sabbatical with us in our research center in an
environme0nt where there's a great deal of entrepreneurship
and business guidance, supported by a knowledge community," says
Dr. Block, a professor at the Drexel University College of
Medicine and president of the PA Biotech Center. "They
will develop their idea and determine its feasibility in a
real laboratory setting."
A Competitive
Opportunity to Participate
Dr. Block and his colleagues held a competition to choose the
scientists who will be funded by the grant. "We asked
people to provide a brief proposal," he says. "It
was important that their ideas be unique and compatible with
what we do here." The four winners—chosen from 40
applicants—come from a variety of backgrounds and represent
a range of proposal topics from medical chemistry to bio-defense. "We
will benefit from having these smart guys around, and they'll
benefit from our resources and our collective wisdom," says
Dr. Block.
Throughout their one- to two-year sabbatical
at the PA Biotech Center, the scientists will have to meet
certain milestones and will be judged at intervals throughout
the year. "The goal is for them to exit with successful
entrepreneurial investments," Dr. Block says.
Driving Biotechnology
and the Economy
Dr. Block jokingly refers to the program as "Who wants
to be an entrepreneur?" but the goals are very serious
indeed. The $815,000 grant supporting the program will provide
salary support for the scientists as well as some money for
supplies. Ben Franklin Technology Partners played a key role
in writing the grant, specifically by crafting some of the
ideas and putting them in the right format to be understood
by the EDA. "Ben Franklin helped us stay on message when
dealing with economic stimulus issues," he says.
The relationship between Dr. Block and
BFTP is longstanding. BFTP helped with the 2006 launch of the
PA Biotech Center, which was created by Dr. Block's foundation,
the Hepatitis B Foundation and its research organization, the
Pennsylvania Commonwealth Institute. The PA Biotech Center
gives budding Pennsylvania biotech companies a home to reseed
in their early stages. "These biotech companies with two
to five employees benefit from being here, and we benefit from
their synergies," he says. "Plus, it is a great regional
economic driver."
Several of the center’s companies have grown considerably,
including Immunotope,
which is in the process of being acquired.
A History of Support
BFTP supported and funded the creation of the Ben Franklin
Innovation Center almost 10 years ago, which worked with
Dr. Block and his team to support and grow scientific research
from discovery to commercialization. "Their support
has been vital. Without Ben Franklin, we would not have had
the sensitivity, the professionalism or, frankly, the obligation
to help small companies and startups; they have brought a
degree of discipline and mission that was certainly not a
part of our thinking as discovery scientists," he says.
Overall, BFTP has invested just over half a million dollars.
Dr. Block's upcoming sabbatical program
for scientists continues the mission of the PA Biotech Center—to
support biotech research and help stimulate the local economy. "I
don't know if the project is unprecedented, but it is definitely
unusual," he says. "We have some really bright mission-oriented
people coming. It may define a new way of nurturing innovation."
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