HudsonAlpha inspires hope

Saturday, November 10, 2007

By BRIAN LAWSON

Times Business Writer brian.lawson@htimes.com

First 12 biotech companies headed for institute spark excitement

To the passerby, Friday's opening ceremony for the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology looked like most such events, but it was different.

The focus wasn't really about the state-of-the-art facility in Cummings Research Park and its fine labs, but what could take place inside.

It was about hope.

During his remarks to several hundred people, HudsonAlpha President Jim Hudson conveyed his excitement about moving in 12 biotech companies in the affiliate's wing over the coming months.

But he also spoke movingly about a family illness. His wife has been hospitalized since Wednesday night with an infection, and with current testing technology doctors still don't know the cause.

Hudson said the institute will house a company, Theragnostix Reference Laboratories, with emerging technology that can turn such days of frightening uncertainty into a rapid diagnosis. Current tests take between 48 hours to five days for results, while the technology developed by Genaco founder Dr. Jian Han, now an institute principal investigator, takes four hours.

Gov. Bob Riley, called biotechnology's best friend in Alabama by Hudson, hailed the growth of the institute's company list from an expected six to eight to the current 12, with two more knocking on the door. Riley pledged to help expand the just-opened institute as needed, advising state Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, that there's more work to be done on the institute's behalf.

About 200 employees will move in with the companies in next few months. Another 100 or so researchers will move into the institute's nonprofit research side next year.

Riley said Alabama's future and reputation can be redefined by work at the institute - an Alabama one day known as the home of the company that cured ovarian or breast cancer.

The institute will house companies working on drugs and detection and treatment tools for those diseases.

Riley said the decision by Rick Myers, who heads the genomics program at Stanford University, to accept the position as the institute's scientific director illustrates what kind of impact it will make.

"That helps us understand how truly dramatic and revolutionary these discoveries will be for mankind," Riley said. "It's a question of whether or not we're ready to lead the world in making some of the most fundamental discoveries mankind has ever made."

The 12 companies will work on cutting-edge tools for researchers, unique databases and massive gene libraries. They will work on drug delivery systems, battle cystic fibrosis and study what genes allow an animal to survive at the mouth of an active volcano or in frozen soil.

Hudson said he and Lonnie McMillian, the institute's chairman, believe combining free enterprise with academic research and educational outreach will lead to greater discoveries, faster entry into the market with new products from researchers and improved medical care.

McMillian, a co-founder of Huntsville-based telecommunications company Adtran, was given a commemorative coin by Mayor Loretta Spencer Friday for his quiet support of a wide range of projects.

McMillian has said his interest in biotechnology began after a brush with cancer, and he, like Riley, believes the institute can help change mistaken perceptions about Alabama.

"The institute lets those in Huntsville do something good for the city, county, state, and if successful, good for the world."

Danny Lewis, CEO of Expression Genetics, said the company, which is in clinical trials for an ovarian cancer drug, is looking at possible collaborations in Japan and Europe. He said the company's presence in the institute makes those collaborations and the prospects for fundraising more viable.

"We have to raise considerable sums for our advanced clinical programs nationwide," Lewis said. "For them to come and look at a place like this is definitely an asset."

The companies will begin moving in over the next several weeks, with Open Biosystems expecting to begin operating in HudsonAlpha by mid-December.

Brian Pollock, the Open Biosystems CEO, said a key difference between the work at the institute and the space program is the scale of government funding. But he said the opportunities presented by the institute for working together to develop new ideas, projects and even companies is a source of tremendous optimism.

"Gov. Riley is right on; we have to be willing to take on large challenges," he said. "I do believe we're making fundamental changes in the way diseases are looked at."



HudsonAlpha inspires hope Saturday, November 10, 2007 By BRIAN LAWSON Times Business Writer brian.lawson@htimes.com First 12 biotech companies headed for institute spark excitement To the passerby, Friday's opening ceremony for the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology looked like most such events, but it was different. The focus wasn't really about the state-of-the-art facility in Cummings Research Park and its fine labs, but what could take place inside. It was about hope. During his remarks to several hundred people, HudsonAlpha President Jim Hudson conveyed his excitement about moving in 12 biotech companies in the affiliate's wing over the coming months. But he also spoke movingly about a family illness. His wife has been hospitalized since Wednesday night with an infection, and with current testing technology doctors still don't know the cause. Hudson said the institute will house a company, Theragnostix Reference Laboratories, with emerging technology that can turn such days of frightening uncertainty into a rapid diagnosis. Current tests take between 48 hours to five days for results, while the technology developed by Genaco founder Dr. Jian Han, now an institute principal investigator, takes four hours. Gov. Bob Riley, called biotechnology's best friend in Alabama by Hudson, hailed the growth of the institute's company list from an expected six to eight to the current 12, with two more knocking on the door. Riley pledged to help expand the just-opened institute as needed, advising state Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, that there's more work to be done on the institute's behalf. About 200 employees will move in with the companies in next few months. Another 100 or so researchers will move into the institute's nonprofit research side next year. Riley said Alabama's future and reputation can be redefined by work at the institute - an Alabama one day known as the home of the company that cured ovarian or breast cancer. The institute will house companies working on drugs and detection and treatment tools for those diseases. Riley said the decision by Rick Myers, who heads the genomics program at Stanford University, to accept the position as the institute's scientific director illustrates what kind of impact it will make. "That helps us understand how truly dramatic and revolutionary these discoveries will be for mankind," Riley said. "It's a question of whether or not we're ready to lead the world in making some of the most fundamental discoveries mankind has ever made." The 12 companies will work on cutting-edge tools for researchers, unique databases and massive gene libraries. They will work on drug delivery systems, battle cystic fibrosis and study what genes allow an animal to survive at the mouth of an active volcano or in frozen soil. Hudson said he and Lonnie McMillian, the institute's chairman, believe combining free enterprise with academic research and educational outreach will lead to greater discoveries, faster entry into the market with new products from researchers and improved medical care. McMillian, a co-founder of Huntsville-based telecommunications company Adtran, was given a commemorative coin by Mayor Loretta Spencer Friday for his quiet support of a wide range of projects. McMillian has said his interest in biotechnology began after a brush with cancer, and he, like Riley, believes the institute can help change mistaken perceptions about Alabama. "The institute lets those in Huntsville do something good for the city, county, state, and if successful, good for the world." Danny Lewis, CEO of Expression Genetics, said the company, which is in clinical trials for an ovarian cancer drug, is looking at possible collaborations in Japan and Europe. He said the company's presence in the institute makes those collaborations and the prospects for fundraising more viable. "We have to raise considerable sums for our advanced clinical programs nationwide," Lewis said. "For them to come and look at a place like this is definitely an asset." The companies will begin moving in over the next several weeks, with Open Biosystems expecting to begin operating in HudsonAlpha by mid-December. Brian Pollock, the Open Biosystems CEO, said a key difference between the work at the institute and the space program is the scale of government funding. But he said the opportunities presented by the institute for working together to develop new ideas, projects and even companies is a source of tremendous optimism. "Gov. Riley is right on; we have to be willing to take on large challenges," he said. "I do believe we're making fundamental changes in the way diseases are looked at." © 2007 The Huntsville Times © 2007 al.com All Rights Reserved.