Bioscience momentum / LJWorld.com

Opinion

The national attention Kansas is receiving certainly won’t hurt its efforts to become a leader in biotechnology ventures.

J-W editorials

July 29, 2010

A ranking released this week by a national site selection publication is great news for people who envision a bright future for Kansas in bioscience research and industry.

Business Facilities magazine called Kansas’ jump into fifth place in the magazine’s rankings for biotechnology strength “one of the most significant improvements” in its annual rankings. Kansas was ranked ninth last year.

“Kansas clearly has shown that it is a biotech force to be reckoned with,” said Business Facilities editor Jack Rogers, “and it has staked a claim to a leadership position for years to come.”

We like the way this magazine thinks.

Business Facilities focused on the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility and other animal health efforts under way in Manhattan, which it also has ranked as No. 2 among its top 10 metro areas for economic growth potential. The magazine also cited the Kansas Bioscience Authority for its “impressive and expanding program … that brings together industry, higher education and government in a coordinated targeted effort.”

That’s all good news for Kansas. The KBA, meeting in Overland Park this week, took steps to push two major bioscience efforts in the state: agricultural research and the drive to obtain National Cancer Center status for the Kansas University Cancer Center. On the agriculture front, Kansas will become one of nine partners in a new U.S. Department of Agriculture network designed to connect research to potential commercial products.

For the KU effort, KBA approved spending $1.6 million to hire two top researchers, who are bringing large research grants with them and are expected to attract $8.2 million in additional grants in the next decade. Hiring top researchers not only brings millions of dollars into the state, it also is a key component in bolstering the application KU plans to submit in about a year to become a National Cancer Center.

Success breeds success, and the national attention Kansas is receiving for its efforts in biosciences certainly has the potential to open new doors for the state. The new NBAF facility and other animal health research programs at Kansas State University are setting the pace. Hopefully, KU and its cancer center won’t be far behind.

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ENGWOOD (anonymous) says…

Too bad the same enthusiasm and support can't be directed to the Sunflower Electric expansion and the Sunflower Bioenergy Center development in Western Kansas.

http://www.sunflower.net/bioenergy.aspx
July 29, 2010 at 4:21 p.m.
1. none2 (anonymous) replies…
  
  http://www.sunflower.net/bioenergy.aspx leads to nothing you can click on about it. You might want to try this instead:
  
  http://www.sunflowerbioenergy.com/
  
  I'll get enthusiastic when I start to see water above ground again in the ArKansas River. When I show pictures of it and try to tell people that I watched a flood in Dodge City where buildings floated down stream in the early 60's, they laugh. How could I have seen such a thing from a sandy dry river bed? I'm sure we'll see more water once we have more coal plants and ethanol plants out there.
  
  While wind and solar may not be the complete answer for our energy needs, you would think a company in windy western Kansas would do more than just meet the minimum requirement of 10% of energy from wind. Also any generation they do have should not permanently lock in western Kansas's share of new capacity to a minuscule portion of the total capacity. If western Kansas finds its needs increase, it should be able to negotiate an increase its share.
  July 30, 2010 at 7:10 p.m.
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oneeye_wilbur (anonymous) says…

I wonder why KU and the School of Engineering don't get a building in East Hills. The spec building closest to the highway, put some wind turbines right on top of the hill so they can be seen approaching Lawrence. Right around the "oil well' at the entrance of the "park".

The campus doesn't have to be crammed into the center of town. Lawrence will be competing so big for bioscience as that is now the new "economic" development. After that, then what? When will the US ever become a manufacturing center for the world? Until then, it's just a slow ride to the future.
July 29, 2010 at 6:54 p.m.
Jane (anonymous) says…

I thought this line deserves repeating...
"The new NBAF facility and other animal health research programs at Kansas State University are setting the pace."
July 30, 2010 at 8:03 p.m.