For immediate release
| MEDIA CONTACT
PENNY SUGAR psugar@vgtifl.org 772-345-4786 /561-699-9611 PAT WILLIAMS pat@pwapr.com 772-781-5240/772-678-9828 |
VGTI Receives Enthusiastic Welcome at St. Lucie County
Economic Development Council Luncheon
Port St. Lucie, FL. (November 14, 2011) – Leaders of Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute of Florida (VGTI-FL) updated a packed audience on research studies, education efforts for the community, and VGTI FL building construction at the St. Lucie County Economic Development Council meeting on Nov. 2.
The featured speakers were Rafick-Pierre Sékaly, Ph.D., Co-Director and Chief Scientific Officer of VGTI-FL, John Schatzle, Ph.D., a Principal Investigator and Director of Scientific Affairs at VGTI-FL, and VGTI Facilities Manager Jim Rizzi.
Dr. Sékaly outlined areas of research that VGTI-FL is conducting, and Dr. Schatzle explained the education, internship and outreach programs underway with area universities, high schools and teachers.
Mr. Rizzi commended local contractors for their work on the new VGTI-FL research building, saying the quality of work has been phenomenal. The $47 million building will formally open in March. “We’re on schedule and under budget,” Mr. Rizzi said.
Penny Sugar, Director of Institutional Advancement at VGTI-FL, introduced each speaker at the luncheon. The group received an enthusiastic welcome from David Skiles, chairman of the St. Lucie County EDC, and a capacity audience at the Schreiber Conference Center on the St. Lucie West Campus of Indian River Community College.
VGTI-FL is an independent 501(c) 3 nonprofit research organization in Port St. Lucie, FL. that focuses on studying the human immune system to prevent and treat chronic infectious diseases, cancer and autoimmune diseases and inflammation problems that disproportionately affect aging populations. VGTI-FL is related to the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute at Oregon Health & Science University in Beaverton, Ore.
The featured speakers were Rafick-Pierre Sékaly, Ph.D., Co-Director and Chief Scientific Officer of VGTI-FL, John Schatzle, Ph.D., a Principal Investigator and Director of Scientific Affairs at VGTI-FL, and VGTI Facilities Manager Jim Rizzi.
Dr. Sékaly outlined areas of research that VGTI-FL is conducting, and Dr. Schatzle explained the education, internship and outreach programs underway with area universities, high schools and teachers.
Mr. Rizzi commended local contractors for their work on the new VGTI-FL research building, saying the quality of work has been phenomenal. The $47 million building will formally open in March. “We’re on schedule and under budget,” Mr. Rizzi said.
Penny Sugar, Director of Institutional Advancement at VGTI-FL, introduced each speaker at the luncheon. The group received an enthusiastic welcome from David Skiles, chairman of the St. Lucie County EDC, and a capacity audience at the Schreiber Conference Center on the St. Lucie West Campus of Indian River Community College.
VGTI-FL is an independent 501(c) 3 nonprofit research organization in Port St. Lucie, FL. that focuses on studying the human immune system to prevent and treat chronic infectious diseases, cancer and autoimmune diseases and inflammation problems that disproportionately affect aging populations. VGTI-FL is related to the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute at Oregon Health & Science University in Beaverton, Ore.
