La Jolla, San Diego is growing stronger each day as the number one bio-medical research hub in the world.
Most recently Pfizer dedicated $372 million to its La Jolla research facility, including $150M to fund new laboratories and offices. Research at this campus benefits from its proximity to UCSD, a school widely known for it’s biotech and medical exploration. The school itself just received a $30 million endowment from the Skaggs Institute for Research, supporting a new school that specializes in Pharmaceutical Sciences. The simultaneous expansion of these facilities helps to leverage one another for the benefit of biotech research and development, with a high concentration of cancer research within this bound community.
Professionals in the field see these big money steps as a form of confidence in an ability to change the future of science and technology. The staff and students seem to be working together in a non-competitive environment that harbors development and success, advancing as a union to task. Allowing students access to local facilities encourages long-term commitment and advancement, a wonderful side-effect of cooperation. Collaboration also exists with the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, studying natural ocean compounds for their effects on therapies, drug design, and pharmaceutical development.
UCSD will utilize its donated monies to fund recruitiment and development of future pharmecutical scientists and pharmacy practicioners. Studies will included managing and analyzing data using state-of-the-art methods, personalizing drug therapy for individuals based on genetic profiles, and computational drug design. UCSD Chancellor Marye Anne Fox is grateful for the donatin asserting it “will have a profound impact on the health and welfare of our greater community.” The school will be the only state supported pharmacy school in Southern California, and has been very strategically placed. The facility will serve just over 300 students, with devoted fellows and residents.
More info at UCSD: http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/newsrel/campaign/pharmacygift.htm
and at Pfizer: http://www.pfizer.com/lajolla/
