QB3, Gladstone Institutes Lauded For Role in Economic Development

The California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3) and the J. David Gladstone Institutes have jointly received the 2008 “Economic Development Award” from the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce for their role in promoting economic development in the City. Both institutes are affiliated with UCSF and are based at Mission Bay. The award is in recognition of substantially contributing, or plans to greatly contribute, to the economic vitality of San Francisco through creating new jobs and opportunities, advancing a new industry or revitalizing a sector or neighborhood of the city. “In difficult financial times it is imperative that governmental funding agencies see the University of California as a powerful engine for economic recovery and growth,” said QB3 Director Regis B. Kelly, PhD, who is also a professor in the UCSF Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics. “An award for economic development from a prestigious Chamber of Commerce connects University scientific research to society benefit with compelling directness.” The research institutes have a multipronged role in the city’s economic development. Both institutes are founded in scientific excellence, enabling them to attract some of the best research talent in the world to San Francisco and Mission Bay. Research at both institutes also is leading to scientific breakthroughs, which result in product development collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. These collaborations, which have been a cornerstone of QB3’s mission, are a unique model for academia and industry and lead to the formation of new companies. Unique to QB3 is the onsite “garage,” which provides laboratory facilities to house and nurture micro-size biotech start-up companies. The Gladstone Institutes, described in the award as “the biomedical jewel of San Francisco,” also were acknowledged for their outreach efforts that bring new people into Mission Bay and their efforts to inspire future generations of scientists through educational programs. This year’s “Ebby Awards” recognized business leaders across five categories: Excellence in Business; Innovation through Technology; Emerging Growth; Build SF; Small Business; and Economic Development.