Local Media Reports
VGTI is in the news! Here are articles from local media sources.
VGTI creates new spinoff company
November 10, 2011 - PC Palm - By Eric Pfahler
PALM BEACH COUNTY — Vaccines for diseases such as cancer and AIDS might be developed by scientists working in Port St. Lucie.
At least, that's what Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute founder Dr. Jay Nelson is hoping.
Nelson attended the BioTech Breakfast at the Breakers' event Thursday. The event featured representatives from VGTI, Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Scripps Research Institute and the Max Planck Florida Institute. The Palm Beach Business Group Inc. sponsored the event, which was held at the Breakers' Hotel in Palm Beach.
After the event, Nelson spoke with Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers about the nonprofit's three-year $5 million deal with Merck, potential spinoffs and plans to open VGTI's Port St. Lucie facility in early 2012.
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Biomedical research groups Scripps, Planck, others tout benefits to local economy
November 10, 2011 - Palm Beach Daily News - By David Rogers
Four major biomedical research organizations in the area are advancing medicine, while also having a sizeable impact on the local educational system and economy, representatives said Thursday.
Each detailed that impact by the numbers during a Palm Beach Business Group meeting at The Breakers.
Harry Orf, vice president for scientific operations at Scripps Florida, used 2010 statistics to demonstrate the benefit of Scripps Florida, an offshoot of the mammoth nonprofit Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Calif.
“While we spent $13.2 million directly, our impact was over $40 million. While we created 69 jobs, there were 290 jobs as a result of us being here,” Orf said.Read Full Article...
Four major biomedical research organizations in the area are advancing medicine, while also having a sizeable impact on the local educational system and economy, representatives said Thursday.
Each detailed that impact by the numbers during a Palm Beach Business Group meeting at The Breakers.
Harry Orf, vice president for scientific operations at Scripps Florida, used 2010 statistics to demonstrate the benefit of Scripps Florida, an offshoot of the mammoth nonprofit Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Calif.
“While we spent $13.2 million directly, our impact was over $40 million. While we created 69 jobs, there were 290 jobs as a result of us being here,” Orf said.Read Full Article...
Price Wealth Management Hosts VGTI-FL Reception
April 27, 2011 - TC Palm - By Hugo H. Ottolenghi
STUART — UBS Price Wealth Management Group hosted a reception in mid-April for Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute-Florida at the home of Judie and Gary Price in Stuart. The event introduced VGTI-FL to select leaders in Martin County.
Dr. Rafick-Pierre Sekaly co-director and Chief Scientific Officer at VGTI-FL, and Dr. John Schatzle, Director of Scientific Affairs at VGTI-FL,made presentations on the breakthrough work now being done, and on plans for the research institute's center now under construction in St. Lucie West.
VGTI-FL conducts research that can lead to the development of vaccine therapies to promote human health, including ways to treat and prevent AIDS, cancer, tuberculosis and the diseases associated with emerging viral infections.
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STUART — UBS Price Wealth Management Group hosted a reception in mid-April for Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute-Florida at the home of Judie and Gary Price in Stuart. The event introduced VGTI-FL to select leaders in Martin County.
Dr. Rafick-Pierre Sekaly co-director and Chief Scientific Officer at VGTI-FL, and Dr. John Schatzle, Director of Scientific Affairs at VGTI-FL,made presentations on the breakthrough work now being done, and on plans for the research institute's center now under construction in St. Lucie West.
VGTI-FL conducts research that can lead to the development of vaccine therapies to promote human health, including ways to treat and prevent AIDS, cancer, tuberculosis and the diseases associated with emerging viral infections.
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Saturdays With Scientists' Big Hit With Students
November 13, 2010 - By Alex Tiegen - TC Palm
PORT ST. LUCIE — Luke Hanna was in awe of a vial of chocolate milk as he stood in a laboratory at Treasure Coast High School Saturday morning.The fifth-grade student from the St. Lucie County School District had taken the vial to test its pH content with a commercial litmus strip, and he was excited about his chance to play scientist.
“This is so fun,” he said. “Aaah ... This thing’s got bubbles.”
Hanna and 17 other fifth-grade students from one zone of the school district were the first participants in the new “Saturdays with Scientists” program, a partnership between the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute of Florida and the district. By the end of the school year, 75 fifth-grade students from the district are expected to participate in the program, which aims to teach students about science skills, research and how scientists work and communicate. The students at Saturday’s demonstration all came from the Blue Zone, east of Florida’s Turnpike and south of Midway Road.
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PORT ST. LUCIE — Luke Hanna was in awe of a vial of chocolate milk as he stood in a laboratory at Treasure Coast High School Saturday morning.The fifth-grade student from the St. Lucie County School District had taken the vial to test its pH content with a commercial litmus strip, and he was excited about his chance to play scientist.
“This is so fun,” he said. “Aaah ... This thing’s got bubbles.”
Hanna and 17 other fifth-grade students from one zone of the school district were the first participants in the new “Saturdays with Scientists” program, a partnership between the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute of Florida and the district. By the end of the school year, 75 fifth-grade students from the district are expected to participate in the program, which aims to teach students about science skills, research and how scientists work and communicate. The students at Saturday’s demonstration all came from the Blue Zone, east of Florida’s Turnpike and south of Midway Road.
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Select St. Lucie County Fifth-Graders to Spend Saturdays With VGTI Scientists
November 6, 2010 - By Kelly Tyko - TC Palm
ST. LUCIE COUNTY — The Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute of Florida will soon conduct an experiment involving its scientists, Saturdays and a select group of the county’s fifth-grade students.
For the pilot year of a partnership between the St. Lucie County School District and VGTI Florida — an expansion of Oregon Science and Health University’s Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute — about 75 fifth-graders will participate in “Saturdays with Scientists.” “The whole purpose of this is to introduce the local school kids to science in general,” said John Schatzle, manager of scientific affairs at VGTI. “We’re having some of our junior scientists lead these experiments on Saturdays with the kids to try to teach basic principles and concepts and do a little hands-on experimentation.” The institute, which looks for vaccines that fight cancer and infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS and dengue fever, was created with a $60 million incentives package from the state and $53 million from local governments. While building its own facility, VGTI is using 28,000 square feet in Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, the first biotech to come to Port St. Lucie.
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ST. LUCIE COUNTY — The Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute of Florida will soon conduct an experiment involving its scientists, Saturdays and a select group of the county’s fifth-grade students.
For the pilot year of a partnership between the St. Lucie County School District and VGTI Florida — an expansion of Oregon Science and Health University’s Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute — about 75 fifth-graders will participate in “Saturdays with Scientists.” “The whole purpose of this is to introduce the local school kids to science in general,” said John Schatzle, manager of scientific affairs at VGTI. “We’re having some of our junior scientists lead these experiments on Saturdays with the kids to try to teach basic principles and concepts and do a little hands-on experimentation.” The institute, which looks for vaccines that fight cancer and infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS and dengue fever, was created with a $60 million incentives package from the state and $53 million from local governments. While building its own facility, VGTI is using 28,000 square feet in Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, the first biotech to come to Port St. Lucie.
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Cancer Symposium Shows Growth of Treasure Coast as Research Center
November 5, 2010 - By Jonathan Mattise - TC Palm
PORT ST. LUCIE — Four key players in Tradition’s growing biotech and health scene are gathering with local medical practitioners Saturday to discuss their collaborative approach in advancing cancer research, diagnosis and treatment.
A week after courts cleared Martin Memorial Health Systems to build an 80-bed Tradition hospital by 2014, the Transformational Oncology Symposium will assemble the hospital’s future neighboring research partners at Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies to share their latest oncology best practices.“In the past, this type of research was done in large academic medical centers,” said Mark Robitaille, Martin Memorial chief executive officer. “We’re able to work to develop new trials, getting patients involved quicker and more efficiently. And with our technology, we can do just as good a job, if not better.
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PORT ST. LUCIE — Four key players in Tradition’s growing biotech and health scene are gathering with local medical practitioners Saturday to discuss their collaborative approach in advancing cancer research, diagnosis and treatment.
A week after courts cleared Martin Memorial Health Systems to build an 80-bed Tradition hospital by 2014, the Transformational Oncology Symposium will assemble the hospital’s future neighboring research partners at Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies to share their latest oncology best practices.“In the past, this type of research was done in large academic medical centers,” said Mark Robitaille, Martin Memorial chief executive officer. “We’re able to work to develop new trials, getting patients involved quicker and more efficiently. And with our technology, we can do just as good a job, if not better.
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Research Coast Passes Milestone with Biotechnology Lab Construction
October 21, 2010 - By Editorial Board - TCPalm
The evolution of the Treasure Coast into the Research Coast and a world leader in biotechnology reached a milestone Wednesday with groundbreaking ceremonies for VGTI Florida’s $42 million laboratory in Tradition’s Florida Center for Innovation in Port St. Lucie. The 100,000 square-foot facility is being built next to the region’s first major biotech acquisition, the Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies. Torrey Pines President Richard Houghton was instrumental in luring the branch of the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute of Oregon Health & Science University to the Treasure Coast. Researchers for VGTI Florida now occupy space at the Torrey Pines facility while its new lab is being built. The new facility is expected to be completed in 2012.
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The evolution of the Treasure Coast into the Research Coast and a world leader in biotechnology reached a milestone Wednesday with groundbreaking ceremonies for VGTI Florida’s $42 million laboratory in Tradition’s Florida Center for Innovation in Port St. Lucie. The 100,000 square-foot facility is being built next to the region’s first major biotech acquisition, the Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies. Torrey Pines President Richard Houghton was instrumental in luring the branch of the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute of Oregon Health & Science University to the Treasure Coast. Researchers for VGTI Florida now occupy space at the Torrey Pines facility while its new lab is being built. The new facility is expected to be completed in 2012.
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VGTI FLorida Makes its Mark in Port St. Lucie's Future
October 20, 2010 - TCPalm - By Jonathan Mattise
PORT ST. LUCIE — The Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute of Florida laid the groundwork Wednesday for a research facility pegged to help boost regional jobs by the thousands and possibly discover cures for diseases like HIV and cancer.
Key contributors to the institute’s expansion sunk their hands into a square of wet cement, marking the beginnings of a facility that will help the Interstate 95 research corridor continue to take shape.
“What I see is, this whole area (Tradition) will not be recognizable in 10 years,” said Dr. Jay Nelson, founder and executive director of VGTI Florida. “There are going to be multiple institutes here, biotech companies, a hospital, clinical studies being done here, drug trials we’ll participate on.
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PORT ST. LUCIE — The Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute of Florida laid the groundwork Wednesday for a research facility pegged to help boost regional jobs by the thousands and possibly discover cures for diseases like HIV and cancer.
Key contributors to the institute’s expansion sunk their hands into a square of wet cement, marking the beginnings of a facility that will help the Interstate 95 research corridor continue to take shape.
“What I see is, this whole area (Tradition) will not be recognizable in 10 years,” said Dr. Jay Nelson, founder and executive director of VGTI Florida. “There are going to be multiple institutes here, biotech companies, a hospital, clinical studies being done here, drug trials we’ll participate on.
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Foundation Laid for Vaccine Institute
October 20, 2010 - By Allison Ross - Palm Beach Post
PORT ST. LUCIE — The Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute of Florida has begun construction on its 100,000-square-foot biomedical research facility at the Tradition Center for Innovation in Port St. Lucie.
The biotech firm's new three-story campus, which is slated to be finished in 2012, will house scientists working on such infectious disease threats as AIDS and Dengue fever, and will focus more on human clinical trials than its parent campus at Oregon Health & Science University. The design, building, permitting and equipment costs for the facility come to $48.8 million, a spokesman said. VGTI Florida, as it's known, has about 50 employees in a temporary facility on the third floor of the adjacent Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Sciences building. It plans to have about 200 employees by 2018 with an average wage of $60,000 per year.
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PORT ST. LUCIE — The Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute of Florida has begun construction on its 100,000-square-foot biomedical research facility at the Tradition Center for Innovation in Port St. Lucie.
The biotech firm's new three-story campus, which is slated to be finished in 2012, will house scientists working on such infectious disease threats as AIDS and Dengue fever, and will focus more on human clinical trials than its parent campus at Oregon Health & Science University. The design, building, permitting and equipment costs for the facility come to $48.8 million, a spokesman said. VGTI Florida, as it's known, has about 50 employees in a temporary facility on the third floor of the adjacent Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Sciences building. It plans to have about 200 employees by 2018 with an average wage of $60,000 per year.
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