State Representative Lonnie Reed (D-Branford) welcomed the State Bond Commission’s expected funding of the Connecticut Bioscience Collaboration Program at its January 30th meeting. The state bond monies are a result of a law passed during the October 2011 special legislative session on jobs committing $290 million to the program through Connecticut Innovations, a quasi-public agency that invests in state businesses.
“This funding builds on the transformational investments our state began making in 2006—investments that have resulted in exciting medical discoveries and hundreds of excellent new jobs,” said Rep. Reed. “Connecticut has what it takes to be in the vanguard of the fast growing life sciences industry that will transform medicine, save lives and, in the process, help build a vibrant future for our state.”
Rep. Reed serves on the Life Sciences Group that is working within the State Department of Economic Development (DECD) to fully invigorate and develop Connecticut’s life sciences sector. The group includes representatives from Yale University, UCONN, Wesleyan, several hospitals, medical manufacturing and technology companies, bioscience entrepreneurs and other associated essential stakeholders.
Along with funding the Bioscience Collaboration Program, Connecticut has convinced the prestigious Jackson Laboratories to build a new division in Farmington focused on the innovative field of personalized medicine as part of the state’s ongoing effort to become an internationally renowned life sciences hub.
The funding for investments over the next ten years is expected to total $290,685,000.
