Biomedical Research: Massachusetts Leading the Way?
Originally from the Boston area, I make it a habit to check news in that region on a regular basis. Boston.com happens to be a favorite site that gives me good exposure to the goings-on of my hometown. I was pleasantly surprised recently when a story was run on Governor Deval Patrick and his efforts to increase funding for life sciences organizations in Massachusetts. This would not normally make national news save for the amount he pledged: $1 billion over 10 years.
To me, this kind of investment makes sense. Massachusetts, and more specifically the Boston area, is a hotbed when it comes to life sciences and biotechnology. With companies like Genzyme, research institutions like MIT and Harvard, and world-renowned hospitals like Massachusetts General and Brigham and Women’s all within a 20 mile radius of one another, there is a teeming pool of beneficiaries to Duval’s kitty of $100 million a year.
In a press release on the Official Website of the Governor of Massachusetts, there is some direction as to where this money will go. Some will offset a loss of funding from the National Institute of Health to the region, which has steadily declined since 2003. Other money will be directed to the creation of a Massachusetts Stem Cell Bank, which will be supported (and perhaps administered?) by local area hospitals and research institutions. Fellowship Grants will also be established to encourage research in life sciences and help maintain Massachusetts’ position as a leader in this field. Finally, Life Sciences Innovation Centers will be created with the remaining money to streamline knowledge transfer and sharing among those participating in the program. It would also oversee the distribution of the money under the proposal.
The Governor has come under scrutiny, however, because the details of the program have yet to be fleshed out, and it could be some time before the money begins flowing to the organizations that need it. Additionally, the current incarnation of the Life Sciences Innovation Center, which was created during the Romney administration to handle distribution of significantly less grant money, will now be responsible for managing a much larger budget. The existing center consists of only 5 people, and I’m not sure it makes sense to give so few people such a big increase in responsibilities without some checks and balances in place.
Overall, I’m impressed that Patrick made such a bold move to increase the ability for Life Sciences companies to provide a better understanding of the human body and what makes us tick, but I am concerned, as with any new state organization, that it will either take years to get off the ground or will be so fraught with corruption over time that the money really won’t help the organizations that need it.
This also begs the question as to whether other states will take the initiative to improve their own Life Sciences programs in their region. New Jersey is a hub for a number of pharmaceutical companies, and New York is home to many businesses and universities with at least a portion of their resources devoted to Life Sciences. Should these states increase assistance to these organizations, and if so, to what extent? Is Massachusetts creating a standard for others to follow, or does it really stand alone because of its unique blend of universities, biotechnology companies and hospitals? What do you think?
