The 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 expansion of its New Iberia Research Center is under way, paving the way for a Level 3 biosafety lab that will enable more on-site advanced research.
A recent ground breaking for the biosafety lab marks the first step in the evolution of what will become the state小蝌蚪APP檚 newest economic sector.
The biosafety lab 小蝌蚪APP along with the construction of the Iberia BioInnovation Accelerator in Progress Point Business Park 小蝌蚪APP will create the Bieaux Tech Technology Hub in Iberia Parish.
小蝌蚪APP淭he Level 3 biosafety lab at NIRC will ensure that the research center and Iberia Parish continue to play an integral, crucial role in meeting health care challenges and improving health outcomes in the years ahead,小蝌蚪APP Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette president, said during the groundbreaking.
小蝌蚪APP淲ith the combined capabilities of NIRC, the biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility, and the BioInnovation Accelerator you can envision a future in which a drug is taken from research to testing to manufacturing to the marketplace with each step taking place within about 5 miles of each other. That will benefit humanity in every corner of the world. It will also benefit the region小蝌蚪APP檚 workforce and its economy,小蝌蚪APP Savoie continued.
Both projects are the result of a nearly $50 million investment of state capital outlay funds brought to Acadiana by its legislative leaders. Nearly $25 million is for the expansion of NIRC 小蝌蚪APP the nation小蝌蚪APP檚 largest non-human primate center 小蝌蚪APP and more than $22 million will go toward the development of the BioInnovation Accelerator drug manufacturing facility at Progress Point.
Dr. Ramesh Kolluru, UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 vice president for Research, Innovation, and Economic Development, called the two projects 小蝌蚪APP渢ransformational for the 小蝌蚪APP, Iberia Parish, the region, and the state of Louisiana小蝌蚪APP that 小蝌蚪APP渃ouldn小蝌蚪APP檛 have happened without people coming together for the greater good of where we live and also for the greater good of the lives that will be impacted.小蝌蚪APP
Preliminary economic impacts include the creation of nearly 550 new jobs with $10.6 million annual tax revenues for Iberia Parish. The total economic output is estimated to be $144.3 million.
In addition, the Acadiana Planning Commission and the 小蝌蚪APP are working on plans to leverage NIRC小蝌蚪APP檚 capabilities, with an eye on possibilities once the Level 3 biosafety lab is operational. APC secured a $500,000 federal grant to pursue a biopharmaceutical manufacturing cluster in Iberia Parish and a plan to attract drug manufacturers who can utilize NIRC小蝌蚪APP檚 future lab for development and testing.
Taylor Barras, Commissioner of Administration for Louisiana, praised the work of higher education, state government, and local government at the groundbreaking event. 小蝌蚪APP淥ne of Governor Jeff Landry小蝌蚪APP檚 three top priorities was economic development and I can小蝌蚪APP檛 think of a better example of teamwork on economic development,小蝌蚪APP he said.
Both projects are expected to be completed in the next two years.
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