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Orlando's 'pizazz' creates wave of potential for researchers
Written by David Damron and Mark Schlueb
Posted August 24, 2006 |
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Burnham Institute researchers spend hours in labs working to unravel the molecular workings of diseases, but the scientists also are attracted to the plush natural environment around its La Jolla, Calif., campus.
That was one of the big draws Orlando had to overcome in wooing the biomedical firm away from expanding at its coastal competitor, Port St. Lucie.
"The proximity to the ocean is a real draw," Burnham Chief Executive Officer John Reed said after announcing his 750-strong army of California researchers would grow by another 300 in the next decade in Orlando.
But ultimately, Reed said, "the ingredients to attract a creative culture exist here [in Orlando]. It's got that pizazz to attract the best and the brightest."
Burnham's ability to attract the globe's best biologists, chemists, biophysicists, engineers and computer scientists in the past 30 years has allowed the nonprofit institute to position itself among the giants in biomedical research, building an annual operating budget of $87 million, and funding most of its operations through competitive research grants awarded to its scientists.
Reed has twice topped Science Watch's annual list of the world's hottest scientists because of his prolific research.
Burnham's scientists publish their research in medical journals, allowing the results to be shared with disease researchers around the globe.
Along the way, Burnham discoveries have led to more than 200 patents.
"The Burnham" -- as it is known internally -- also has been a driving part of a number of approved therapies in use at medical centers around the world.
The institute's main funding source is federal grants, a fact that lured the University of Florida to Orlando to partner with the biomedical outfit.
Clustered on the West Coast with other top-flight research outfits, such as its older and bigger brother, the Scripps Research Institute, Burnham has long been able to tap the best minds in the Western United States and Asia.
But the Orlando expansion would allow it to more easily attract researchers from Europe and the Northeast U.S.
"Some of the excitement derives not solely from thinking that California researchers will move to Florida, but rather that researchers that may have wanted to work at The Burnham, but did not want to move to California, would find it ideal to move to Florida," wrote Burnham program director Evan Snyder in an email.
"We envision entirely new recruits to our research."
Founded around cancer and later infectious-disease and aging research, Burnham plans in Orlando to more aggressively study diabetes and obesity, Reed said. "Now it's time for the Burnham Institute and our Florida partners to focus on getting down to the business of saving lives," Reed said.
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