Messages from the Executive Vice President

June 14, 2011

Bioscience Connecticut Update

As you know, over the past two weeks both chambers of Connecticut's General Assembly approved Governor Dannel P. Malloy's forward-thinking Bioscience Connecticut initiative. We look forward to the bill being signed in the next few weeks and working with the Governor’s staff to implement all of the elements of the plan as it is brought to fruition over the next few years, with a completion date for all projects by 2018.

To reiterate, the Governor’s comprehensive plan was created to stimulate short- and long-term economic development and to meet the health care needs of our state. The Governor has described the major components of the plan in the following categories:

Bioscience Innovation:
Under the plan, the UConn Health Center's original lab building, the "L" building, will undergo its first major renovation. This represents 238,000 square feet and will introduce an open design, similar to the award-winning layout of the Cell and Genome Sciences Building, to encourage collaboration among research neighborhoods.

Also, the plan calls for the recruitment of new 50 new translational-scientists, including 10 basic scientists. This was designed to double the amount of federal and sponsored research to $200 million annually. The plan also includes the addition of a 28,000-square-foot incubator to foster new business startups. Of note, this represents a doubling of the amount of incubator space for the entire University.

Meeting Future Healthcare Needs: 
Governor Malloy’s plan calls for a 30 percent increase in the enrollment of the combined medical and dental schools. In addition, it introduces a loan forgiveness program for students who commit to careers in primary care medicine or dentistry in Connecticut.

Improving Access to Care:
Governor Malloy’s plan improves access to care in several ways. First, it calls for the completion of previously approved plans to construct a new patient care tower on our campus and renovate the John Dempsey Hospital. Later this week, we will be sharing more details about the recently completed Master Plan for the hospital construction and renovation projects.

In addition, Bioscience Connecticut includes the construction of a new 300,000-square-foot Ambulatory Care Center on the lower campus that will replace the Dowling buildings, provide new clinical space for faculty, and will be financed privately.

Lastly, Bioscience Connecticut will implement all elements of the previously-approved UConn Health Network, including initiatives to address healthcare disparities, the shortage of primary care physicians, and much more.

According to a thorough economic analysis of the plan, Bioscience Connecticut is expected to create 3,000 construction-related jobs annually from 2012 through 2018 and ultimately lead to 16,400 new jobs by 2037.

In the days, weeks and months ahead, we will be sharing new details about the plan and a comprehensive website for the project will be launched. We remain deeply appreciative of Governor Malloy’s leadership and his vision for a stronger and healthier Connecticut. We are proud to be part of the plan.

Sincerely,

Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D.
Vice President for Health Affairs
Dean, UConn School of Medicine