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Grand Opening of TGen Headquarters Marks Milestone in Statewide Biotech Initiative
March 28 , 2005 by EditorThe Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and the International Genomics Consortium (IGC) today announced the grand opening of its worldwide headquarters. The six-story, $46 million dollar city-owned building forms the cornerstone of the Phoenix Biomedical Center (PBC), a planned bioscience and medical research campus located in downtown Phoenix.
Officials from TGen, IGC and the City of Phoenix joined with Senator John McCain, Governor Janet Napolitano, Mayor Phil Gordon, and more than 500 guests in celebrating the building dedication and ribbon cutting. Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, delivered the keynote speech.
“Building our biotech industry is very important for the state's future economic growth and will benefit all its citizens,” stated Arizona 's Governor Janet Napolitano. “We are committed to investing resources to make our state successful and to enabling legislation that will make Arizona more attractive to out of state companies wishing to open or expand offices here.”
Critical to the success of the PBC are commitments from the University of Arizona, Arizona State University and others to develop a College of Medicine, a College of Pharmacy and a College of Nursing in downtown Phoenix and a potential School of Global Health located nearby.
“Thanks to unfailing hard work from people throughout the state, the Phoenix Biomedical Center is becoming a reality. As the keystone of this project, TGen and its scientists and research programs foster an environment of scientific collaboration and innovation,” says Dr. Jeffrey M. Trent, TGen's President and Scientific Director. "The new headquarters building enables TGen to further its goal of developing improved diagnostics and therapeutics to better the lives of people in Arizona and around the world.”
The PBC is an integral piece of the statewide bioscience initiative and is expected to have a significant impact on biomedical discoveries, the quality of health care for Arizona 's residents, and the expansion and diversification of the state's economy.
"Bioscience is the fastest growing segment of the national economy. We're confident that IGC, TGen and their unique strategic partnership with the state's three universities and partnering with research organizations across the country will enhance Arizona's economy by bringing new industries and new jobs to the state,” said Richard Mallery, IGC chairman.
The PBC provides a unique, energetic environment that will attract biotech and related companies to Phoenix and Arizona, from around the nation and world, for business opportunities in R&D, collaboration, partnering, and office expansion.
“In addition to our rich cultural and entertainment venues, Downtown Phoenix has the resources and infrastructure necessary to attract and sustain world-class organizations and companies, said Phil Gordon, Mayor of Phoenix. “We're excited to have TGen, IGC, and NIDDK in our midst, and we invite biotech companies from out of state and around the world to investigate the business opportunities for R&D, collaboration, and expansion that we offer.”
