Biotech 'happy hours' bring faculty, researchers, entrepreneurs together
3/3/2006
by Eric Fossell
The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON - "Happy hour" and "forensic science center" don't quite seem to mix.
Seveal local entrepreneurs and biotechnology researchers and faculty, however, would say otherwise. Jerry McDonald, president of the Huntington Area Develoment Council, and Terry Fenger, diretor of Marshall University's Forensic Science Center, were among several entrepreneurs, researchers and faculty who gathered Wednesday at the Forensic Sicence Center. The faculty is located along Charleston Avenue at the former site of Fairfield Stadium.
"We've done six of what we call biotech happy hours," McDonald said. "It's to bring the researchers and the private secor tegether. The researchers sometimes talk a little different language."
He said HADCO has created the West Virginia Biotech Alliance, a private nonprofit organization "to market the biotech assets of Marshall University."
Biotech is virtually exploding at Marshall, including the hghly anticipated opening of the Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology Science Center on campus. That facility is expected to be finished by fall and open in January for the start of the spring 2007 semester, according to Dave Wellman, director of communications at Marshall.
Fenger referred to the greater Huntington area as a nucleus of biotech activity. Among other things, the Forensic Science Center does DNA testing and has databases in connection with violent crimes, property crimes, paternity testing and implantable medical devices. Other biotech functions at Marshall include forensic analytical chemistry and microbial forensics, the latter which is performed near the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Wayne County.
"It's all coming together," McDonald said. "We need to celebrate the intellectual capital at Marshall University. All of the stars are lining up right now."
A prime example of entrepreneurs and scientists working closely became apparent last September. That's when Marshall Undergraduate students Derek Gregg and Justin Swick secured more than $50,000 of startup capital from local investors to expand Vandalia Research, a business they founded in downtown Huntington.
"We take anywhere from 15 to 20 students every year, and essentially we mold their careers for forensic science," Fenger said. "What's unique about this situation is we have an active accredited lab that the students can do internships in and experience real life DNA testing."
Fenger explained that biotech at Marshall also is rare, considering that it has one of three accredited master's degree programs throughout the country, and students work closely with Marshall's biotech institutions.
The seemingly endless economic/scientific possibilities, including biotech opportunities at Huntington's KineticPark, ignite McDonald's entrepreneurial passion.
"This will be a long-term process," he said of the alliance between research and industry. "It's not going to be a quick fix."
