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Oregon courts biotech empire OHSU president to announce plans in Medford today By Bill Kettler A $500 million plan to make Oregon one of the top medical research centers in the United States will be announced today in Medford. The plan ultimately could bring better health care and more jobs to Southern Oregon, said Dr. Peter Kohler, president of Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland. Kohler was scheduled to visit Medford today to discuss "The Oregon Opportunity" with civic leaders, local state legislators and acting SOU President Sara Hopkins-Powell. Kohler said Thursday that developments in genetics and biotechnology are opening a new era of unprecedented medical research. Oregon has the potential to become a premier research center, but not without investing in new laboratories that will attract top-quality scientists. "We want to establish the biotechnology industry as a base for the Oregon economy," he said. Kohler said $500 million could build enough high-tech laboratory space to recruit 60 to 80 world-class scientists and their research teams. Their presence, along with researchers already working at OHSU, could propel Oregon into the top rank of medical research centers. Kohler suggested funding for the project should be a mix of public and private funds. Tentative plans call for a $300 million investment from private sources and $200 million from state bonds. The bond costs could be financed with cash from Oregon�s share of the settlement from a multi-state lawsuit against tobacco companies. "There�s a certain logic in using the tobacco money for health-related activities," he said. Kohler said he chose to announce the initiative in Medford because it could bring significant medical and economic benefits to the entire state. Biotechnology revenues approached $47 billion in the United States in 1999, and the field is projected to grow at 35 percent per year for the foreseeable future. "The beauty of (the plan) is that it doesn�t all have to be in Portland," he said. Oregon already has a significant medical research presence at OHSU. The university received $165 million in research grants in 1999, ranking 29th among 438 institutions that receive research funds from the National Institutes of Health. Kohler said research grants could double over the next 10 years if the state builds new research laboratories. "We want to push Oregon into the top 10," he said. Presently, Oregon�s biotechnology industry plays a relatively minor role in the state�s economy. Kohler said Oregon has about 75 mostly small biotech companies, while San Diego, Calif., alone has 250 biotech enterprises. The new research center could give Oregonians easy access to some of the most advanced developments in health care long before they become generally available, said Bill Thorndike Jr., of Medford. Thorndike serves on a statewide steering committee that has been created to encourage discussion of the proposal. "I would hope that people could consider it locally as an investment in creating the kind of health care they would want for themselves and their families," Thorndike said. Many Southern Oregon residents already travel to OHSU for organ transplants and advanced medical treatments. During the 1999 fiscal year, the university recorded 2,136 patient visits from Jackson County and 1,315 patient visits from Josephine County. Kohler said Oregon must act soon to have a chance to play a major role in the emerging biotechnology industry. Texas, Wisconsin, Missouri and other states also are discussing plans to develop biomedical centers. Oregon�s quality of life gives it an advantage over other states, but only if it can offer top-notch laboratories. "The great advantage we have over Wisconsin and Texas is the livability of this state," he said. "Oregon is a great state to recruit to if you have something to offer." Information about "The Oregon Opportunity" will be posted in the future on the OHSU Web site: www.ohsu.edu. Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA