Research breaks new ground

At biotech center ceremony, Hudsontouts protein study

Friday, January 20, 2006

By BRIAN LAWSON
Times Business Writer brianl@htimes.com

Jim Hudson's vision for a biotechnology research center in Huntsville includes both research and assisting business development of biotech products - and Hudson's visions tend to be realized.

While the dirt in Cummings Research Park had just begun to fly at Thursday's groundbreaking for the 260,000-square-foot Hudson-Alpha Institute for Biotechnology, the hard work had already started.

Hudson told the crowd of more than 400 that Dr. Tom Hodge, the institute's first investigator, recently published a paper on human proteins that "could lead to treatments for smallpox," should it ever be used as a bioweapon.

Hodge's work, in concert with the University of Georgia, has been shared with the University of Alabama inHuntsville's Center for Structural Biology, Hudson said. UAH students are working to discover the atomic structures related to Hodge's work.

Gov. Bob Riley, who spoke at Thursday's ceremony, said when Alabama researchers are given a chance to compete they succeed, and he expects the Hudson-Alpha Institute to help lead a new era in the state's economy.

The institute has already attracted the participation of six area biotech companies, and Hudson and the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce plan to participate in the nation's largest annual biotech conference this spring in Chicago.




Research breaks new ground At biotech center ceremony, Hudsontouts protein study Friday, January 20, 2006 By BRIAN LAWSON Times Business Writer brianl@htimes.com Jim Hudson's vision for a biotechnology research center in Huntsville includes both research and assisting business development of biotech products - and Hudson's visions tend to be realized. While the dirt in Cummings Research Park had just begun to fly at Thursday's groundbreaking for the 260,000-square-foot Hudson-Alpha Institute for Biotechnology, the hard work had already started. Hudson told the crowd of more than 400 that Dr. Tom Hodge, the institute's first investigator, recently published a paper on human proteins that "could lead to treatments for smallpox," should it ever be used as a bioweapon. Hodge's work, in concert with the University of Georgia, has been shared with the University of Alabama inHuntsville's Center for Structural Biology, Hudson said. UAH students are working to discover the atomic structures related to Hodge's work. Gov. Bob Riley, who spoke at Thursday's ceremony, said when Alabama researchers are given a chance to compete they succeed, and he expects the Hudson-Alpha Institute to help lead a new era in the state's economy. The institute has already attracted the participation of six area biotech companies, and Hudson and the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce plan to participate in the nation's largest annual biotech conference this spring in Chicago. © 2006 The Huntsville Times © 2006 al.com All Rights Reserved.