Editorial: Practical plan

An institute that would work to turn more bioscience research into actual drug applications is a good investment for Kansas.

Even in such a tight budget year, Kansas University’s request for funds to establish a new Drug and Vaccine Discovery Institute (DVDI) is worthy of state legislators’ consideration.

The institute fits perfectly with lawmakers’ desire to advance the state’s reputation as a leader in biosciences. It also would help turn university research advances into drugs and treatments that would provide broad health benefits.

Specifically, KU is asking for $5 million to establish the DVDI, which would consist of two units: the Translational Chemical Biology Institute and the Kansas Vaccine Institute.

Too often, KU officials say, basic research is slow to be translated into treatments available to the public. The DVDI would help researchers pool their research efforts and push their discoveries into practical drug applications. Beyond the health benefits the effort would provide, it also would help the Kansas economy by building partnerships with existing companies and encouraging the development of startup firms.

Admittedly, KU’s request likely will be a tough sell given the current budget problems facing the state. Gov. Sam Brownback tried and failed last year to gain legislative approval for $2 million for the Kansas Institute of Translational Chemical Biology. The Kansas Board of Regents included the $5 million for DVDI among its top funding requests for this year, but the governor’s budget plan doesn’t specifically mention the project.

At the end of their last session, several legislators said they didn’t understand enough about the KU proposal to approve it. KU officials undoubtedly have been working hard to better explain the concept of translational medicine and its importance to the state’s research and drug development efforts, but legislators still may not think the plan merits funding this year.

That would be unfortunate. Among many less-concrete efforts the state is touting as beneficial to the Kansas economy, KU’s Drug and Vaccine Discovery Institute is a solid plan to contribute to both the state’s physical and economic health.