What is the Kansas City Area Life Sciences Initiative?

The Kansas City Area Life Sciences initiative holds the promise of a healthy future for our region through scientific research, economic development, improved quality of life, enhanced education and new job opportunities. Economic development associated with the life sciences follows a cycle from laboratory research to innovation (intellectual property – patents and licensing) to commercialization of a product or service. Innovation drives capital investment in existing and start-up companies resulting in new jobs, wealth creation and enhanced prosperity.

What is the Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute and what does it do?

A 501(c) (3) not-for-profit, the Kansas City Life Sciences Institute serves as the coordinating body for the Kansas City region’s life sciences research initiatives, through facilitation, matchmaking and potential funding organization for collaborative research and by supporting technology transfer, commercialization and related economic development initiatives.

Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute’s Vision

To lead the transformation of the Kansas City region into a nationally-recognized center of excellence in life sciences research, development and commercialization.

Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute’s mission is:

• Fostering and solidifying relationships between the academic and private sector life sciences communities

• Assisting scientific collaborative research efforts through identification and qualification of funding opportunities, proposal review facilitation, resource allocation, and maintaining accountability

• Overseeing and managing fundraising and marketing activities

• Assisting in life sciences advocacy efforts at the local, state, and national levels

• Providing support to economic development and technology transfer/commercialization organizations

How was the Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute established?

A task force appointed by the Kansas City Area Development Council and the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City issued a report in October 1999, conveying a vision of Greater Kansas City as a life sciences center. Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute was incorporated a few months later, a business plan was drafted and approved in October 2000, with formal operations commencing in February 2001. Creation of KCALSI originally brought together eight stakeholder institutions as research collaborators. Two additional stakeholder institutions were added in 2005—Kansas State University and The University of Missouri-Columbia.

The 10 stakeholders include:

• Children’s Mercy Hospital & Clinics
• Kansas City University of Medicine & Biosciences
• Saint Luke’s Hospital/Mid America Heart Institute
• Kansas State University
• Midwest Research Institute
• Truman Medical Center
• The University of Kansas-Lawrence
• The University of Kansas Medical Center
• The University of Missouri
• The University of Missouri-Kansas City

An update to the original KCALSI strategic plan was completed in 2004, involving 120 interviews with legislative, scientific and community leaders, an e-survey of 1,825 life science community contacts (over 900 surveys returned), data collection in support of the Kansas City Industry cluster analysis, RaDiUS data collection regarding federally funded R&D, and a University inventory analysis. Six key opportunity areas were targeted for implementation: animal health; bio-pharma; cardiovascular; healthcare knowledge and personalized medicine; neuroscience; and oncology.

What are the “life sciences?”

In the simplest terms, life science relates to the study of human, plant and animal physiology, biology and chemistry. For KCALSI, the life science definition is two-fold; First it denotes a wide range of research that allows scientists to isolate and closely observe human, plant or animal life at its most basic molecular and cellular level. Second, it involves the commercial output of this research that may create the means to alleviate and eventually cure many of the basic natural defects found in all living organisms, and thus vastly improving health care, agriculture, the environment, and even our nation’s security.

Does the Life Sciences Institute house and conduct laboratory based research?

No. As a coordinating body, the Life Sciences Institute facilitates collaborative research between scientists at its 10 stakeholder institutions. The research is conducted at the stakeholder institutions. However, Daniel P. Getman, Ph.D., President and Keith Gary, Ph.D., Director of Program Development, are scientists with extensive research experience.

How does the Life Sciences Institute support technology commercialization?

KCALSI works closely with several regional technology commercialization partners including KC SourceLink, Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation (KTEC), MRI Ventures, Enterprise Center of Johnson County, KU Office of Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property, and the MU system Office of Technology and Special Projects.

Who are the staff members of the Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute?

• Daniel P. Getman, Ph.D., President, dgetman@kclifesciences.org
• Keith Gary, Ph.D., Director of Programs, kgary@kclifesciences.org
• Sharon Newman, Executive Assistant, snewman@kclifesciences.org
• Nicole Riegel, Project Manager, Kansas City Science Initiative, nriegel@kclifesciences.org

Who is involved in Kansas City’s life sciences initiative?

In addition to the 10 stakeholder institutions, more than 200 life sciences companies call the Kansas City region home. Further, the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Kansas City Area Development Council and a number of philanthropic entities and private sector companies provide ongoing support and impact. Kansas City’s life sciences initiative has led to increased national exposure and credibility which has attracted companies seeking relocation opportunities. Companies that have recently chosen to relocate or expand in the Kansas City region include BioTarget, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., CATalyst Council, Imulan BioTherapeutics, Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, Inc., North America Pet Health Insurance Association, SOMARK Innovations, ANOxA, SAFC Biosciences, Prescription Solutions, Quintiles, and CaremarkRx.

A number of companies have been spawned from local research centers – CyDex, Proteon Therapeutics, LLC, Phylogenetix, OsteoGeneX Inc., KC BioMediX, Inc., Crititech and Sceptor Industries are just a few examples.

How large is the region that KCALSI serves?

While there are no true bounds to the region, KCALSI serves both Kansas and Missouri and the 10 stakeholder institutions span west to east from Manhattan, Kansas, to Columbia, Missouri and north to south from St. Joseph, Missouri to Wichita, Kansas.

How does KCALSI support workforce education programs?

KCALSI actively works in the community to enhance education in math and science in grades K-16. Examples of KCALSI’s commitment to education include:

• A systemic science reform initiative, undertaken in partnership with Bayer and the Kansas City Missouri School District, utilizing research-based experiential learning approaches for elementary school math and science education.

• Developing and sustaining partnerships to implement biotechnology workforce development initiatives across the educational continuum, including elementary, secondary, and continuing adult education.

• Establishing a vital infrastructure to support student internships and teacher externships in biotechnology, healthcare, and manufacturing.

How do Kansas Bio, MOBIO, KTEC and MTC fit into all of this?

KCALSI actively supports the vision, programs and mission of Kansas BIO, Missouri BIO (MOBIO), Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation (KTEC), and Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC) through participation on their Boards of Directors and selected programs.

How can the business community/citizens help with the cause?

It is helpful to elect and support political candidates who are strong supporters of science and education and who keep abreast of pending legislation impacting life science companies. Additionally, an educated workforce is necessary to staff life science companies, so a quality education in math and science is imperative to the region’s success. The initiative may be supported by contributing to the Kansas City Life Sciences Fund established by the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation.

What is meant by different kinds of research, such as “clinical versus basic” and other types of research?

Advances in life sciences research (study of the biology of plants, animals and humans) results from a series of interrelated and interdependent steps involving basic scientists, applied researchers, and clinical investigators.

Different types of research include:

• Basic Research is directed toward increasing knowledge in science wherein the primary aim of the investigator is a fuller knowledge or understanding of the subject under study, rather than a clear or direct practical application thereof. This includes analytical and experimental activities that primarily seek to increase the understanding of fundamental phenomena.

• Developmental Research is the systematic use and practical application of investigative findings and theories of a scientific or technical nature toward the production of, or improvements in, useful-products to meet specific performance requirements but exclusive of manufacturing and production engineering. Developmental research includes studies, investigations, initial hardware development and ultimately development of hardware, systems, or other means for experimental or operational test.

• Clinical Research is patient-oriented research including, mechanisms of human disease, therapeutic interventions, clinical trials, development of new technologies, disease prevention, epidemiological and behavioral studies, and outcomes research and health services research.

• Translational Research involves converting findings from basic research, clinical research into applications; from bench to bedside, from concept to clinical application, and from discovery to dissemination, translating novel scientific insights into new approaches for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease is the ultimate goal of research into the health related sciences.

A Life Science Glossary of Basic Terms

Angel Investment: An investment made by an individual in an entrepreneurial growth company. While angel investors often perform similar functions as venture capitalists, angels invest their own money into a firm rather than invest institutional funds or capital from other investors.

Bioinformatics: This term generally refers to the use of computer technology in solving information problems in the life sciences. Specifically, it involves the creation of extensive electronic databases on genomics, protein sequences, combinatorial chemistry and DNA sequencing research efforts in order to accomplish a research objective.

Biotechnology: The means or way of utilizing life forms (organisms) to provide desirable products for man’s use. Biotechnology in the United States has come to mean all parts of an industry that knowingly creates, develops, and markets a variety of products through control on a molecular level, of life forms or utilization of knowledge pertaining to living systems.

Commercialization: Commercialization is the process of developing an idea to the point of introducing it to the marketplace. The goal of commercialization efforts is to turn the innovations of inventors, researchers, and entrepreneurs into business opportunities for the economic benefit of specific community or state.

Genomics: The scientific study of genes and their role in an organism’s structure, growth, health, disease and resistance to disease. Some tools/methods utilized in genomics include: structural genomics, gene function analysis, functional genomics, chemical genetics, and gene expression analysis.

Nanotechnology: A new and developing technology in which man manipulates objects whose dimensions are approximately 1 to 100 nanometers. The technology also encompasses biochips, biosensors, and manipulating atoms and molecules in order to form bigger, but still extremely small functional structures and machines.

Proteomics: The study of an organism’s proteins and a protein’s role in an organism’s structure, growth, health, disease, and resistance to disease. Such functional roles are highly dependent upon each protein molecule’s tertiary structure/conformation. Some methods utilized to determine functions of specific proteins include: chemical genetics, gene expression analysis, and protein interaction analysis.

Technology Transfer: Technology transfer refers to moving cutting-edge technologies developed at universities or government agencies to business and industry. This is traditionally accomplished by negotiating and executing licensing agreements that provide monetary and other benefits to the university where the technology was created or by forming new companies utilizing the technology.

Venture Capital: Venture capital is comprised of independently managed pools of investment capital that focus on equity investment in privately held, growth-oriented companies.