Following a January publication of FierceBiotech that named UW-Madison as one of five places in the world that have shown the most promise and commitment to biotechnology innovation, the state has made concerted efforts to expand and build up the industry to cement its position on the world's biotechnology stage.
'Wisconsin has come up with a very effective strategy for fostering a biotech cluster. The state has tied in new investments for research on the University's campus with direct incentives for growing drug developers,' said John Carroll, editor of FierceBiotech. 'Together, those initiatives have attracted a lot of attention from around the country.'
Gov. Jim Doyle has pledged $750 million to the life sciences'$375 million of which will construct a new public-private research center on the UW-Madison campus.
Michael Sussman, a renowned UW-Madison biochemistry professor and director of the University's Biotechnology Center, said FierceBiotech's nomination is well deserved after 150 years of investment by the state of Wisconsin. He said he largely attributes the success of Madison's biotech sector to the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, which he calls 'one of the world's leaders in its ability to take the ideas of scientists and convert them into business and industry.'
Sussman points to UW-Madison anatomy professor and developmental biologist Jamie Thompson's initial isolation of human embryonic stem-cell lines in 1988 as an example of this success, but emphasizes there are numerous other examples in which UW-Madison biotechnology departments have distinguished themselves as frontrunners in their fields.
State Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, said he is optimistic about the future of biotechnology and the advantages it could bring to the state.
'Wisconsin has tremendous potential in the field of biotechnology. It can create many good-paying jobs and be a key part of our future economy,' he said.
However, despite the resulting economic boost to the state, Black said the state must proceed with care.
'While the future is bright, Wisconsin has to invest in biotechnology, especially in the University, and not stand in the way,' Black said.
He said he is concerned about some state legislators trying to stop biotech research, particularly stem-cell research, due to personal ideological reasons.
Sussman closely mirrored Black's concerns. 'Unfortunately, the state investment in the University has been steadily decreasing in the past two decades, and Madison has gone from a state-supported to a state-assisted university,' Sussman said. 'If this continues, we will jeopardize our success. If we back away, it will be to the detriment of the state's economy and intellectual well-being.'
