Key players in the Kansas City region’s business, educational, scientific and government communities have joined together to cultivate a climate of opportunity for companies competing in and supporting the animal health and nutrition industry.

The organizations which are taking leadership roles in this initiative are the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, the Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute, and the Kansas City Area Development Council.

Animal Health Corridor Advisory Board

• Ron Brakke, Brakke Consulting
• Richard DeLuca Jr., Merck Animal Health
• Dave Cunningham, TEVA Animal Health
• Kay Dowling, Nestle/Purina PetCare
• Paul Hays, Pfizer Animal Health
• Michael Helmstetter, MRIGlobal
• Albrecht Kissel- Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.
• Kostas Kontopanos, Hill’s Pet Nutrition (vice chair)
• Neil Olson, University of Missouri – Columbia
• Daryl Pint- Ceva Biomune
• Ralph Richardson, Kansas State University
• Steve Schram, Agri-Laboratories
• Ian Spinks, Bayer HealthCare, Animal Health Division
• Craig Wallace, Ceva US Holdings (chair)

BIOSCIENCE RESOURCES IN KANSAS CITY

The Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute

The Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute (KCALSI) serves as the coordinating body for the Greater Kansas City region’s life sciences research initiatives, spanning Missouri and Kansas.

KCALSI’s Vision
In collaboration with our stakeholders and strategic partners, transform the Kansas City region into an internationally-recognized center of excellence in life sciences research, development and commercialization – resulting in benefits to the region’s people, economy and institutions.

KCALSI’s Mission

• Foster and solidify relationships between the academic and private sector;
• Assist scientific collaborative research efforts through the identification, evaluation and execution  of potential funding opportunities;
• Assist in life sciences advocacy efforts at the local, state, and national levels;
• Provide support to economic development, technology transfer and commercialization organizations.

The Kansas Bioscience Authority

The Kansas Economic Growth Act of 2004 established a funding engine that will generate more than $580 million over the next 10 to 15 years for the purpose of growing the bioscience industry in the state of Kansas. Bioscience includes plant, animal and life sciences. The incentive programs are governed by the Kansas Bioscience Authority, which provides oversight to the efforts. The following are programs available to bioscience companies locating or expanding to the state of Kansas:

• The Bioscience Research and Development Voucher Program encourages collaboration between industry and academia by providing funding to Kansas companies to engage in joint bioscience research projects in partnership with Kansas universities and colleges.
• The Bioscience Development Financing Program provides incentives to bioscience companies to expand and locate facilities in the state of Kansas.

Missouri Technology Corporation

The Missouri Technology Corporation is a public-private partnership created by the Missouri General Assembly to promote entrepreneurship and foster the growth of new and emerging high-tech companies with a focus on 21st Century bioscience industries that build on Missouri’s rich history in agriculture.  The MTC administers the following investment programs available to companies that locate or expand in Missouri:

• Bioscience Industrial Expansion Program — MTC supports industrial expansion efforts in Missouri that result in significant capital investment and high-paying jobs in targeted high-tech bioscience clusters typically through secured low-interest loans that can be used to purchase equipment, facilitate construction, and hire key personnel.
• Seed Capital Co-Investment Program — MTC will award seed capital funds that match qualified private capital investments to position Missouri high-tech start-up companies for venture capital financing.
• TechLaunch — The Missouri TechLaunch program will provide pre-seed financing to help high-tech entrepreneurs overcome the principal challenges of launching new start-ups that leverage discoveries and talent at Missouri’s world-class public and private research universities and other research organizations.

The Stowers Institute for Medical Research

The Stowers Institute for Medical Research aspires to be one of the most innovative biomedical research facilities in the world. The Institute conducts basic research into complex genetic systems to unlock the mysteries of disease and find the keys to their causes, treatment and prevention. It was founded by Jim and Virginia Stowers, two cancer survivors who decided to dedicate their fortune to supporting the basic research that will provide long-term solutions to gene-based diseases. The Stowers Institute opened its doors to the first scientific research teams in November 2000 after completion of its $300 million, state-of-the-art research facility in Kansas City, Missouri. Five years later, the Institute accommodates more than twenty independent research programs and nearly 300 members, including 90 postdoctoral research associates and graduate students. Notable discoveries from the Institute’s laboratories appear regularly in the leading peer-reviewed journals in biomedicine.

KansasBio

The Kansas Bioscience Organization is a unified voice representing the biosciences in Kansas. Across the human, plant, animal and industrial biosciences, KansasBio is focused on enhancing the business and research climate and working with leaders across the state to attract and retain bioscience talent, companies and funding.

MRIGlobal

MRIGlobal, an internationally acclaimed center for applied scientific research and technology development, is an independent, not-for-profit laboratory that has conducted scientific research for government and industry since 1944.  Its programs span the areas of national security and defense, life sciences, energy, engineering, and agriculture and food safety.

MRIGlobal expertise covers a broad spectrum of scientific specialties including micro- and molecular biology, chemical and pharmaceutical characterization, preclinical research and development, analytical chemistry, mechanical and thermoelectric engineering, automation and robotics and energy. Headquartered in Kansas City, MO, MRIGlobal has additional laboratories and offices in Florida and Maryland, and has managed and operated the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy since 1977. NREL is located in Golden, CO.

MissouriBIO

The Missouri Biotechnology Association is a nonprofit trade association dedicated to development and growth of the Missouri biotechnology and biomedical industry. By supporting basic research in the life sciences, development of a highly educated work force and providing a friendly environment for attracting and founding new business, the Missouri Biotechnology Association intends to make a significant impact on Missouri economic development.