KALAMAZOO ? The Core Technology Alliance, a coalition of life sciences research institutions across Michigan, has added a new member ?
Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
KVCC joins the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Wayne State University and Van Andel Research Institute in Grand Rapids. With KVCC comes
Its Michigan High Throughput Screening Center, a 5,000 square feet facility at the Michigan Technical Education Center.
When completed by this June, the screening center will be providing the computerized, high-speed and robotic procedures that can potentially accelerate the drug-discovery process for small pharmaceutical companies, major research universities, and start-up enterprises that are probing the potential of the life sciences and biotechnology for medical and business-development innovations.
“Connection to the CTA,” said KVCC President Marilyn Schlack, “will have major economic-development and employment ramifications for Southwest Michigan, will offer tremendous learning and training opportunities for KVCC students and students from other institutions, and serve as a pipeline for additional funding at both the state and national levels.”
KVCC joins the Van Andel Institute some 50 miles north in Grand Rapids, forming a dog leg south for the Biotechnology Corridor.
“The addition of the KVCC center substantially enhances the CTA’s technological offerings and brings its capabilities in line with its vision to be a virtual life-sciences company with corporate assets and technology available to entrepreneurs in life sciences,” said George Vande Woude, director of the Van Andel institute and CTA president/chief executive officer.
