Genomics – the science of sequencing genetic code that is opening up new avenues for biological and clinical research – has been cited by Forbes magazine as “The Next $100 Billion Technology Business.” And, USF Health CEO and medical dean Dr. Stephen Klasko is working hard to plug into that pipeline with the USF Health Heart Health and Personalized Medicine initiative. The initiative will focus on translating discoveries from genetic mapping into individualized prevention, diagnosis, prognosis and treatments for cardiovascular diseases.
On Thursday, at the invitation of County Commissioner Mark Sharpe, Dr. Klasko presented a proposal requesting a one-time $2 million investiment from the county to help leverage the creation of a USF Health personalized medicine institute focusing on heart health. Earlier in the week the Florida Legislature agreed to include $6.9 million for the creation of the institute in the state’s budget. Assisting Dr. Klasko with the board presentation were Dr. Leslie Miller, chair of cardiovascular sciences at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and Dr. Stephen Liggett, University of Maryland associate dean for interdisciplinary research, known as one of the founders of modern-day personalized medicine. Dr. Liggett is being recruited by USF, among other institutions across the country.
The industry partnerships, start-up companies, patents and other products projected to spin off from the proposed institute align directly with the county’s 2009 Battelle study calling for an innovation zone to advance economic development based on biotechnology, Sharpe said. “We talk about how we’re going to grow the economy, but we need the game changer… This is a game changer.”
About 90 percent of molecular genomics is science, Dr. Klasko said. “The other 10 percent is the billions and billions of dollars that will happen from translating the research into true benefit for patients.”
“We have an amazing opportunity to become the healthcare solutions zone that would include CAMLS (USF Health’s Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation, that would include personalized medicine, the Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute, Moffitt Cancer Center and what we’re bringing together in diabetes,” Dr. Klasko added.
The investment in translational research and development ultimately pays off in both economic and health benefits, Dr. Liggett, a physician-scientist and entrepreneur, told commissioners.
Dr. Liggett and colleagues have identified a gene variation that appears to help determine which patients with heart failure will benefit from a beta-blocker drug commonly used to treat the chronic disease. That is important because it often takes several months to determine if a specific beta blocker is working for a patient. Along the way, Dr. Liggett’s genomic investigations in heart failure have generated $6.1 million in National Institutes of Health grants, 10 new patents and resulted in the creation of two biotechnonogy companies.
“We’re talking not only about saving money, but people’s lives,” Dr. Liggett said. “The combination of discovery and translating that discovery into usefulness not only creates intellectual property and jobs, but saves lives.”
The County Commission voted unanimously for its staff and Economic Development Committee to work with USF Health on an agreement for the heart institute, including an economic benefits analysis. USF’s funding request would be tied to approval of that agreement.