"The Virginia Tech-TIGR agreement supports this administration's strategy to build the biotechnology infrastructure in Virginia," Governor Warner said. In a series of Executive Orders, Warner wrote, "The biotechnology industry has the potential to benefit agriculture, manufacturing, and marine-based commerce. To be competitive in growing and attracting this industry, Virginia needs a comprehensive and coordinated statewide strategy for biotechnology."

James Bohland, executive director of the National Capital Region and senior fellow for biomedical, bioengineering, and health projects at Virginia Tech, said, "The presence of a college of veterinary medicine and the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute provides the university with the unique opportunity to undertake comparative approaches to systems of disease and health across multiple species. Building on those capabilities, Virginia Tech has made commitments to develop structures and provide resources that encourage and support interdisciplinary research in several critical health and medical areas. These efforts include the creation of the Fralin Biotechnology Center more than a decade ago, the recent establishment of the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, and the creation of the new Institute for Biomedical and Public Health Sciences at the university to focus resources on related research. Strong collaborative agreements, such as with the Wake Forest School of Medicine, and now with TIGR, build on Virginia Tech's emerging research foundation in biomedical and health research."

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Contact: Mark Owczarski
maowczar@vt.edu
540-231-5223
Virginia Tech
7-Nov-2004