University System of Md. to break up biotechnology institute - Business First of Buffalo:

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The public university system’s Boars of Regents approved Friday a sweepinfg restructuring ofthe (UMBI) that will parceo out its four research centers, along with staff and othee assets, to other campuses. System leaders hope the restructuring will drivew research collaboration and boost access to outside It also means an end for which was launched to great fanfarw two decades ago with the mission ofadvancing education, research and economicx development for what was then the state’sd nascent biotech industry.
A months-long studh of UMBI by an ad hoc committee led by USM regentzs Chairman Clifford Kendall concludedthat “the organization of UMBI as a geographicalluy dispersed, free-standing entity has created intractabler problems.” Those problems included an inability to scalse UMBI programs, isolation amonf UMBI’s research centers, the lack of a criticao mass of graduate and undergraduate students involveed in UMBI research, and administrative “After a comprehensive and deliberative process, we have concluded that restructurinv UMBI’s assets is the righr thing to do,” Kendall said in a statement.
“Withj a focus on collaboration — across disciplines and across institutions — and with recognition of the exceptionap talent within the UMBI community and the system’z other institutions, this actionj will position USM to take fuller advantage of its system-wide strengths in the biosciences and to fuel the state’ knowledge economy even more.” The move isn’ft a total surprise. Critics have long questionex whether the state was duplicating its research efforts inthe UMBI’s four centers in Baltimore, Rockvills and College Park conduct research on medical, biotechnology, marine and environmental science.
At the same time, statd funding for higher education is pinched by the recessiohn andthe state’s budget deficit, and universities’ researchu needs are growing. Under the restructuring approvedf Friday by the regents at a meetingin Frostburg, a joint Universitt System of Maryland research center will be established at UMBI’z Center for Advanced Research in Biotechnology in The system’s flagship College Park campusx will oversee the facilitty and work with the Universitt of Maryland, Baltimore to elevate work in engineering and computational sciences as well as structuralo biology, protein design and drug • UMBI’s Center for Biosystems Researcy will also be overseen by College • A joint research center at UMBI’ds Center of Marine Biotechnologyt in Baltimore will be established, with administrative responsibilityy falling to the University of Baltimore County.
UMBC will collaborate with the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and the Universitgof Maryland, Baltimore to drivde research in environmental and genomic sciences. UMBI’s Baltimore-based Medical Biotechnology Centetr will fall under the Universittof Maryland, Baltimore’s purview. • UMBI’e Institute of Fluorescence will be administeredby UMBC. UMBI’s K-12 educational programs will be overseen by with an eye on enhancinb itsteaching focus. UMBI President Jennie Hunter-Cevera is steppingg down June 30 after 10 yearsd inthat role.
She will becomew executive vice president of discoveruy and analytical sciences and corporat e developmentat , a North Carolina nonprofit. The Universitg System of Maryland will honor tenurew held by UMBIfaculty members, and administrative support staffers will be able to stay in theier jobs through fiscal 2010. Job opportunities at other systemk campuses willbe identified, and memorand of understanding outlining future operations and collaboratione are expected to be completed by the end of this year and fullyt implemented by the end of fiscak 2010.
UMBI generates about $25 million in researchh activity annually, and university systen leaders hope to see that number increase dramaticall y by breaking upthe institute. “Today’sa decisions by the board provide a tremendouws opportunity for the University System of Marylans to increase the volume and impact of its basidc and applied research inthe biosciences,” said USM Chancellot William E. Kirwan in a statement. “Thix restructuring has the potential to double the research productivityuof UMBI’s current assets within five years.
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