Top Research Leaders Urge General Assembly to Pass Enhanced Jonas Salk Legacy Fund; More than $1 Billion Would be Available for Medical Research, Comm

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Representatives from leading research universities, the life sciences greenhouses and the venture capital community convened in Harrisburg today to advocate for the Jonas Salk Legacy Fund.

"UPMC is the largest integrated health care system in Pennsylvania and among the largest in the nation," said University of Pittsburgh Medical Center President and CEO Jeffrey Romoff. "The Governor's Salk initiative is undoubtedly an excellent opportunity to accelerate the pace of breakthroughs in medical research and create the future of medicine today."

With overwhelming support from stakeholders and key organizations and institutions across the state, Governor Edward G. Rendell echoed the message telling lawmakers the time to pass the Salk initiative is now.

"The fact that the commonwealth has the support of 11 of the state's leading research institutions, Pennsylvania's life sciences greenhouses, as well as the venture capital and real estate communities, speaks volumes of the importance this initiative is to the state's economy and well-being," said Governor Rendell.

Academic and research institutions endorsing Governor Rendell's proposal are:

"Pennsylvania's efforts to retain and enhance its leadership position in the field of bioscience recognizes the need for resources along the entire biosciences continuum, particularly those directed towards translational research and commercialization; the Jonas Salk Legacy Fund will address this critical need," said Mel Billingsley, president and CEO, Life Sciences Greenhouse of Central Pennsylvania.

After seeking input from the commonwealth's valued partner organizations, the state's lawmakers and its leading research institutions, the Governor enhanced his proposal to include resources along the entire bioscience continuum -- from research and development to product commercialization to sustaining emerging biotechnology companies. A redirection of four percent of the tobacco settlement payments will be used to boost the resources of the life sciences greenhouses and to induce venture capital investments to help early stage companies compete in the global marketplace.

Without spending a single dollar of taxpayer money, this program will inject $1 billion into the economy with the construction of new laboratories. It will also attract top-notch researchers. This investment goes well beyond Philadelphia and Pittsburgh where bioscience clusters already exist in areas like Altoona, Erie, Scranton, State College and Williamsport.

"The Governor has proposed the commitment of additional, ongoing resources to the commercialization efforts of the Venture Investment Board in connection with the Jonas Salk Initiative," said Tom Balderston, president & CEO of the Mid-Atlantic Capital Alliance. "This will continue the momentum established by the original Tobacco Settlement Act and it will further enhance the impact of the 'life science ecosystem' on the commonwealth."

The Jonas Salk Legacy Fund will provide strategic investments to recruit the nation's best researchers to Pennsylvania's leading university and bioscience research facilities, providing the capital to build and upgrade these facilities to create topnotch research capabilities among Pennsylvania's academic medical centers, research centers and universities.

"The Salk fund is about ensuring the health and future of every man, woman and child in Pennsylvania," Governor Rendell said. "The state has already seen a drop in its ranking for federal funding for our medical and university research facilities, so we must take the necessary steps to ensure capital is available for our institutions to be at the forefront of cutting-edge medical research that will lead to finding cures for diseases."

At the same time, this investment will create more than 13,000 jobs in Pennsylvania and fuel the medical advancements that will solidify our status as an international biosciences center.

"The passage of the Salk fund will ensure that the commonwealth will have the ability to provide the resources to save thousands, if not millions, of lives here in Pennsylvania and around the globe, while also expanding the level of growth in the business of bioscience," Governor Rendell said.

The Governor said the legislature cannot ignore the broad-base of support this initiative has received from world-renowned researchers, the public and medical and research facilities from around the state.

Competitor states like California ($3 billion), Texas ($3 billion), New York ($2 billion), Massachusetts ($1 billion), and Ohio ($300 million) have either enacted or proposed substantial investments in the biosciences. In the past year, Pennsylvania has already slipped from being ranked fourth to fifth in the amount of National Institutes of Health, or NIH, funding the state receives.

"The key to garnering additional federal research funding, with the NIH being the most significant contributor, is the availability of state-of-the- art research facilities and world-class research talent," the Governor said. "Our top NIH competitor states are making sizeable investments and we cannot be complacent if we are to aggressively compete for precious dollars."

Letters of support for the Jonas Salk Legacy Fund can be found at http://www.newpa.com/default.aspx?id=401 . For information on the Jonas Salk Legacy Fund or other DCED programs or funding, visit http://www.newpa.com/ or call 1-866-GoNewPA (1-866-466-3972).

The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit his Web site at: http://www.governor.state.pa.us/ .

CONTACT: Teresa Candori of Pennsylvania Office of the Governor,
+1-717-783-1116

Web site: http://www.governor.state.pa.us/

http://www.newpa.com/

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

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