UAB enlists state and local help for research bucks;

City and state leaders are targeting funding sources for the University of Alabama at Birmingham to help fuel one of the state's largest economic engines.

Three funding avenues would infuse resources into UAB research projects and facilities with the hope private investment follows, more jobs are created and the city's biotechnology reputation is boosted, according to local officials. Investment in the local biotech community is critical to keeping pace with UAB's Southeastern peers, the officials said.

Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford has signed off on a $4 million commitment to the Shelby Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building, a 340,000-square-foot research facility on UAB's Southside campus. Jefferson County legislators are seeking $10 million for UAB's Comprehensive Cancer Center from Montgomery.

The Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce's 2008 legislative agenda includes securing $2 million in federal funds to establish a drug discovery partnership with Southern Research Institute.

Dick Marchase, UAB vice president of research and economic development, said the proposed partnership would help transition UAB pharmaceutical research into commercial drugs.

And a partnership with SRI could be an economic catalyst for the region, he said.

"We would hope this program would be the stimulus to help us begin collaborations with private sector companies we'd hope would move to Birmingham," Marchase said. "In the long run, we would expect this would set the stage for private sector investment with the potential for companies to relocate to Birmingham that would have significant impacts on the local economy."

Marchase said SRI's rapid drug discovery technology would complement UAB research. The partnership would move drugs through the discovery process until they are ready to enter the first phase of clinical trials for Food and Drug Administration approval. Marchase said large pharmaceutical companies routinely outsource early stage research and a UAB-SRI partnership could tap into that market.

Following up on a $125 million pledge in 2007, Jefferson County's legislative delegation is preparing to request $10 million from the state to help UAB's Comprehensive Cancer Center retain and recruit faculty and researchers. The state supplied $50 million last year and has promised $10 million a year until the center reaches its $125 million goal.

Rep. Paul DeMarco, R-Homewood, said investing in UAB's Cancer Center will ensure state residents have access to quality care. He said UAB competes nationally against 40 other comprehensive cancer centers for top faculty members who often bring federal research dollars and jobs to local communities.

"We need to remain competitive to retain faculty and researchers," DeMarco said. "If we don't, we will fall behind those other institutions. It is an economic engine for the region. We need to keep the Cancer Center as one of the foremost cancer treatment centers in the country."

DeMarco said the Jefferson County delegation has made Cancer Center funding a priority in 2008. He said the delegation plans to meet with the Gov. Bob Riley soon to discuss allocating state funds.

Langford also is seeking to invest in the state's largest employer. He has asked the City Council to deliver $2 million to UAB's biomedical facility this year, followed by four annual $500,000 payments ending in 2012.

The city's funds will be used to recruit biotech faculty to the $90 million, 12-story Shelby biomedical facility that opened in March 2006.

"UAB is the biggest economic development engine in this community, so helping the university to attract researchers and jobs is and should be a priority for this city," said Deborah Vance, Langford's chief of staff.