Danforth Center Investigators Secure
Missouri Life Science Trust Funding
Missouri Life Science Trust Funding
•
Danforth Center Principal Investigator
and Vice
President for Research, Dr. Jan Jaworski, along
with Danforth Principal Investigators Dr. Ed Cahoon
and Dr. Joe Jez, received funding from the Missouri Life
Science Trust to collaborate with the Boston-based
company
Metabolix, Inc. to develop new bioplastics created
from non-food oilseed crops that
will be suitable for industrial and medical uses as a
renewable source of biodegradable plastics. This project not only
capitalizes on the world class scientific expertise in
oilseed biology of scientists at the Danforth Center, but the
funding from the State of Missouri has attracted Metabolix, Inc. to establish a research presence in St.
Louis. Metabolix, Inc. will relocate scientists from its headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts to the Nidus Center for Scientific
Enterprise in St. Louis,
located
on the Monsanto Company campus across
the street from the Danforth Center.
This new initiative will expand the existing relationship
between the Danforth Center and the Nidus Center to assist
start-up plant science businesses.
• Danforth Center President and Principal Investigator Dr. Roger Beachy as well as Drs. Oliver Yu, Monica Schmidt, and Tom Smith will also receive collaborative funds from the Missouri Life Science Trust grant awarded to Dr. Himradri Pakrasi, Director of the International Center for Advanced Renewable Energy and Sustainability (I-CARES) at Washington University in St. Louis, to address the development of biofuels. This project will focus on improving the efficiency of transforming biological materials into energy, enhancing the reliability and cost effectiveness of biofuels, and increasing the efficiency of transforming sunlight into energy via plants. The ultimate goal is to provide cheap and abundant energy and help transition biofuels from a boutique to a primary energy source.
• Danforth Center researchers Dr. Oliver Yu and Dr. Daniel Schachtman will also receive collaborative funds as part of a third Missouri Life Science Trust project grant secured by Dr. Laszlo Kovacs of Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. This project will enhance the polyphenol content of Norton and Cabernet Sauvignon grape varieties. Evidence suggests that polyphenols have beneficial properties for human health and increasing polyphenol content in Missouri-grown grapes will also benefit Missouri’s wine industry.
About the Missouri Life Science Trust Fund
In 2003, the Missouri General Assembly created the Life Sciences Research Board and the Missouri Life Science Research Trust Fund with the goal of distributing the state's annual tobacco settlement to:
• Enhance research capacity in life sciences to better serve the health and welfare of Missouri citizens;
• Promote Missouri as a center of life science research and development by building on the success of existing Missouri research institutions;
• Create and attract new research and development institutions; and
• Transform research into commercial life science technology.
In 2007, the Missouri Life Science Research Board announced the designation of three regional Centers of Excellence - located in St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield - with a fourth statewide Center of Excellence in Columbia. Governor Matt Blunt and the Missouri General Assembly approved $13.4 million that will support fourteen proposals throughout the state.
Danforth Center Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations, Rob Rose, recently addressed members of the House Appropriations Transportation and Economic Development Committee on behalf of Danforth Center President and Chairman of the St. Louis Center for Excellence, Dr. Roger Beachy. In addition to thanking the committee for their vision and commitment to science in the State of Missouri, Rob shared details of the work that was approved for the St. Louis Center of Excellence. To read an excerpt from Rob Rose's presentation, click HERE.
• Danforth Center President and Principal Investigator Dr. Roger Beachy as well as Drs. Oliver Yu, Monica Schmidt, and Tom Smith will also receive collaborative funds from the Missouri Life Science Trust grant awarded to Dr. Himradri Pakrasi, Director of the International Center for Advanced Renewable Energy and Sustainability (I-CARES) at Washington University in St. Louis, to address the development of biofuels. This project will focus on improving the efficiency of transforming biological materials into energy, enhancing the reliability and cost effectiveness of biofuels, and increasing the efficiency of transforming sunlight into energy via plants. The ultimate goal is to provide cheap and abundant energy and help transition biofuels from a boutique to a primary energy source.
• Danforth Center researchers Dr. Oliver Yu and Dr. Daniel Schachtman will also receive collaborative funds as part of a third Missouri Life Science Trust project grant secured by Dr. Laszlo Kovacs of Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. This project will enhance the polyphenol content of Norton and Cabernet Sauvignon grape varieties. Evidence suggests that polyphenols have beneficial properties for human health and increasing polyphenol content in Missouri-grown grapes will also benefit Missouri’s wine industry.
About the Missouri Life Science Trust Fund
In 2003, the Missouri General Assembly created the Life Sciences Research Board and the Missouri Life Science Research Trust Fund with the goal of distributing the state's annual tobacco settlement to:
• Enhance research capacity in life sciences to better serve the health and welfare of Missouri citizens;
• Promote Missouri as a center of life science research and development by building on the success of existing Missouri research institutions;
• Create and attract new research and development institutions; and
• Transform research into commercial life science technology.
In 2007, the Missouri Life Science Research Board announced the designation of three regional Centers of Excellence - located in St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield - with a fourth statewide Center of Excellence in Columbia. Governor Matt Blunt and the Missouri General Assembly approved $13.4 million that will support fourteen proposals throughout the state.
Danforth Center Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations, Rob Rose, recently addressed members of the House Appropriations Transportation and Economic Development Committee on behalf of Danforth Center President and Chairman of the St. Louis Center for Excellence, Dr. Roger Beachy. In addition to thanking the committee for their vision and commitment to science in the State of Missouri, Rob shared details of the work that was approved for the St. Louis Center of Excellence. To read an excerpt from Rob Rose's presentation, click HERE.
Questions? Comments?
Thoughts? Ideas?
email us:
onthevine@danforthcenter.org
