Bioscience will continue to be a top priority of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce in the coming year.

“Our efforts center around the recruitment of new companies and startup companies, and commercialization opportunities out of the university,” said Beth Johnson, vice president for economic development at the chamber.

“It’s a top priority in that economic development is a top priority. This is one more leg of our economic development efforts,” she said.

As a success story, she pointed to the landing in 2006 of Ireland-based Identigen Ltd. in Lawrence for its North American operations.

Identigen is a biotechnology company that uses DNA tests to track meat products. This allows retailers to add value by providing information to customers on the quality and safety of the product.

LaVern Epp, president of the Lawrence-Douglas County Biosciences Authority, said the chamber helps the authority’s goal of getting more bioscience development.

“We have access to the economic development staff, and they work closely with the team that the authority has put together,” Epp said.

Chamber and authority officials, however, have come under criticism for being involved in closed-door sessions of the Lawrence City Commission that involved discussion of a $1 million package of economic incentives for Deciphera Pharmaceuticals.

Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison said the commission violated the state’s open meetings law, and a citizens’ group is seeking an investigation into whether Mayor Sue Hack and Douglas County Commissioner Bob Johnson, who each own more than $5,000 in stock in Deciphera, violated conflict of interest laws. Both officials have denied the allegation.

The chamber has defended the Deciphera incentive package.

Deciphera announced earlier this month that it had decided not to accept the public incentives, citing the controversy surrounding the plans.

Johnson, the chamber’s economic development vice president, said the controversy over the deal may hurt efforts to lure more companies because “they could be a little leery of how they’ll be treated.”