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Research campus expands its medical portfolio

By Ben McNeely | Media General

Published: August 31, 2008

By adding Lovelace Respiratory Research Center, the North Carolina Research Campus has expanded its medical research portfolio.
"Our research focuses on respiratory diseases and related treatments, so I definitely see us fitting in with the medical research mission of the campus," said Christopher Blanchette, director of LRRI's Center for Pharmacoeconomic and Outcomes Research, which will relocate to Kannapolis.
Castle & Cooke vice president Clyde Higgs said LRRI fits into Dole Food Co. owner David Murdock's vision of collaborative research.
"His belief is that if you have scientists from different disciplines collaborating on big ideas, the innovation process will be significantly more efficient," Higgs said.
LRRI focuses on prevention, treatment and cure of respiratory diseases, such as asthma, emphysema, lung cancer, inhalation toxicology, aerosol science, inhalation drug delivery, bronchitis and allergies.
This adds a new dimension to medical research by focusing on diseases not already covered at the research campus.
Duke University, through its MURDOCK Study, is looking at individual differences in certain diseases, like heart disease, diabetes and hepatitis-C.
UNC-Chapel Hill is focusing on nutrition and how it affects cancer, obesity and the brain.
Blanchette said he plans to partner with Duke University and UNC Charlotte and contract research organization PPD in his institute's research.
"We will definitely be creating new jobs in Kannapolis," Blanchette said, adding he is looking for an administrative assistant and will be hiring technicians and support throughout next year.
Murdock was in Kannapolis this week meeting with local and state officials about the grand opening of the Core Research Laboratory on Oct. 20.
Recently, Sensory Spectrum, a consumer product research firm from New Jersey, said it was expanding and would open an office at the $1.5-billion campus.
Other companies committed to the campus include open-source software company Red Hat, based in Raleigh; LabCorp; Charlotte-based Carolinas HealthCare System; GlycoMark; and Pelican Life Sciences, based in Huntersville.