Medical school is centerpiece of bill; Ten-year, $1B plan filed.Byline: John J. Monahan BOSTON - The governor has included funds for a first-in-the nation embryonic stem cell Embryonic stem cells (ES cells) are stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of an early stage embryo known as a blastocyst. Human embryos reach the blastocyst stage 4-5 days post fertilization, at which time they consist of 50-150 cells. ES cells are pluripotent. bank and a major RNA-interference research center at the University of Massachusetts Medical School UMMS is ranked fourth in primary care education among the nation’s 125 medical schools in the 2006 U.S.News & World Report annual guide, “America’s Best Graduate Schools”. UMMS is also a major center for research. in Worcester in legislation filed yesterday to provide state bonds and tax incentives to boost life sciences research and related industries. The public financing package is intended as the first part of a 10-year plan to invest $1 billion in life sciences research and development through bonds, grants and tax incentives outlined in May by Gov. Deval L. Patrick. The initial legislation would provide $500 million for construction of new research facilities that will be overseen by the state Life Sciences Collaborative and will create a new life sciences investment program with tax incentives for "certified life science projects" by private companies. The governor announced details of the bill as a special joint session of the state Legislature A state legislature may refer to a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system. The following legislatures exist in the following political subdivisions: The governor said filing the legislation marks the start of an ambitious effort to put Massachusetts in the forefront of stem cell stem cell In living organisms, an undifferentiated cell that can produce other cells that eventually make up specialized tissues and organs. There are two major types of stem cells, embryonic and adult. and RNAi research and development for years to come. "While we are the home to the leading universities, academic research centers, hospitals and life sciences businesses in the country, competitor states and nations are working very hard every day to recruit our best students, our strongest professors, our most talented researchers and our most visionary entrepreneurs," Mr. Patrick said. "The whole world wants what we've got. This is no time to rest on our laurels. Starting today with this legislation Massachusetts gets back into the competitive game, and we play to win," the governor said. "With these investments we will create and construct the Massachusetts stem cell bank which will be the largest depository of stem cells stem cells, unspecialized human or animal cells that can produce mature specialized body cells and at the same time replicate themselves. Embryonic stem cells are derived from a blastocyst (the blastula typical of placental mammals; see embryo), which is very young in the world, and the RNAi research center to support the very good work of Dr. Mello and his team," the governor said. The two research centers will be built at the medical school campus and are expected to cost more than $100 million. The governor said he expects research at the facilities to produce new cures for disease and create jobs, while placing the state at the forefront of life sciences research. "These two facilities will be recognized around the world as symbols of Massachusetts' excellence," he said, noting that the stem cell bank will house the largest collection of stem cell lines A stem cell line is a family of constantly-dividing cells, the product of a single parent group of stem cells. They are obtained from human or animal tissues and can replicate for long periods of time in vitro ("within glass"; or, commonly, "in the lab", in an artificial in the world, including stem cell lines of Harvard University Harvard University, mainly at Cambridge, Mass., including Harvard College, the oldest American college. Harvard College Harvard College, originally for men, was founded in 1636 with a grant from the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. , Children's Hospital Boston Children's Hospital Boston is a children's hospital located in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area of Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 300 Longwood Avenue, Children's is adjacent both to its teaching affiliate, Harvard Medical School, and to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. , and numerous other leading research institutions in the state. He said the expanded research will make the state known as "the international home of the life sciences." Dr. Mello addressed the joint session of the state Legislature shortly after the announcement. He told lawmakers about medical advances and new treatments for disease that are imminent, based on recent advances in the life sciences field. He also told lawmakers it is critical that they continue to improve education. He explained how his own research at the medical school on worms led to breakthroughs that add to the understanding of disease at the molecular level, including mechanisms to turn specific genes on and off to treat disease. He complained that the federal government has lost its focus on medical research, making the state funding even more critical to continue advancements. "With your support, truly great discoveries will be made in this state," Dr. Mello told lawmakers. Senate President Therese Murray Therese Murray is an American politician from the state of Massachusetts. As of March 21, 2007 she is the President of the Massachusetts Senate, becoming the first woman to lead a legislative body in the state. , D-Plymouth, marveled at the potential for medical progress from discoveries made by Dr. Mello, telling lawmakers at the joint session, "Can you imagine one day we will be able to switch off cancer genes?" House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi, D-Boston, said he was "thrilled" to honor "a visionary that has brought home to Massachusetts one of the highest honors in science and medicine." He compared Dr. Mello's success with other scientific breakthroughs launched in the state, including the first use of ether for surgery and liquid fuel rockets invented by Robert H. Goddard For the novelist, see Robert Goddard (novelist). Robert Hutchings Goddard, Ph.D. (October 5, 1882 – August 10, 1945), U.S. professor and scientist, was a pioneer of controlled, liquid-fueled rocketry. He launched the world's first liquid-fueled rocket on March 16, 1926. in Worcester that gave birth to the space age. The legislation also would: Allocate: $15 million for a Life Sciences Investment Fund for fellowships, research grants, loans and workforce training programs. Expand: The Massachusetts Life Sciences Collaborative from 5 to 7 members, headed by the secretary of Housing and Economic Development. Establish: Employment benchmarks for life sciences tax incentives that include a sales tax sales tax, levy on the sale of goods or services, generally calculated as a percentage of the selling price, and sometimes called a purchase tax. It is usually collected in the form of an extra charge by the retailer, who remits the tax to the government. "pass through" for materials used to build life sciences projects; a refundable 10 percent, 10-year life sciences investment tax credit; and provisions to allow certified life sciences projects to be considered research and development companies exempt from state sales taxes. ART: PHOTOS PHOTOG pho·tog n. Informal A person who takes photographs, especially as a profession; a photographer. : THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. CUTLINE: (1) Nobel Prize-winning scientist Dr. Craig C. Mello, of Shrewsbury, addresses members of the Massachusetts House and Senate on the floor of the House Chamber yesterday at the Statehouse state·house also state house n. A building in which a state legislature holds sessions; a state capitol. statehouse Noun NZ a rented house built by the government Noun 1. as Gov. Deval L. Patrick looks on. (2) Massachusetts Speaker of the House Salvatore F. DiMasi, D-Boston, left, and Gov. Deval L. Patrick acknowledge applause from members of the House and Senate yesterday. (3) Amy de Silva, 11, of North Dartmouth, smiles while receiving applause yesterday as she is introduced on the floor of the House Chamber before singing the national anthem at the Statehouse in Boston. Behind her, from left, are Mr. DiMasi, D-Boston, Senate President Therese Murray, D-Plymouth, and Mr. Patrick. |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion