Topeka ? Lawrence residents will have a major say in the future of biosciences in the state of Kansas.

Sixteen Lawrence residents, 13 of whom work for Kansas University, are members of six “hot teams” that will develop the state’s bioscience roadmap.

“It speaks very highly of the university and the how strong the university’s research and development engine is for the state of Kansas,” said Matt McClorey, president and CEO of the Lawrence Regional Technology Center and a “hot team” member.

The teams, with 12 to 15 members each, met for the first time Friday in Topeka. Richard Seline, CEO of New Economy Strategies, a Washington, D.C., firm hired by the Kansas Technology Enterprise Corp., provided an orientation session for team members.

“There is no doubt that the work these teams will do during the next few months will prove essential in developing an effective roadmap for Kansas,” Seline said. “Kansans can be proud that their state is so united and focused in its dedication to the bioscience initiative.”

The hot teams are the latest step in a process that began in the fall with a series of bioscience summits across Kansas, including one in Lawrence at the Dole Institute of Politics. Six areas were identified for “hot team” study:

• Advanced materials and medical devices.
• Animal sciences.

Lawrence residents, KU workers make cut (01-22-05)

• Biomass, biofuels, biomaterials and other environmental applications.
• Drug discovery, drug delivery and pharmacogenomics (the study of how an individual’s genetic inheritance affects the body’s response to drugs).
• Health-related information technology, bioinformatics (the use of computers to characterize the molecular components of living things) and telemedicine.
• Plant sciences.

The roadmap will help the state’s Bioscience Authority determine how to spend an estimated $500 million expected to be generated by the Kansas Economic Growth Act during the next 10 years.

The act, approved by the 2004 Legislature, uses tax dollars generated by growth in the life sciences industry to finance enhancements to university research and business development.

Tracy Taylor, president and CEO of KTEC, said the committee should convert philosophy to practicality for the state’s bioscience plan.

“We’ve seen the data. We’ve been on listening tours,” Taylor said. “Now it’s time to roll up our sleeves and for each group to focus on their respective areas of expertise.”

The “hot teams” will meet this spring and be expected to conclude their work in mid-April. The Kansas Bioscience and Innovation Roadmap report should be released in early May.

McClorey said he hoped the process would add focus to the state’s bioscience efforts.

“This is a huge undertaking KTEC is leading,” he said. “I’m excited to see the end result.”