The University of South Florida continues to help push Tampa Bay’s economic growth with its research projects and innovation efforts. For every research result that is converted into usable products by industrial partners, the impact means more business projects, more industrial growth, more jobs, more transactions in the real estate market and further research projects.
Here are the most recent developments at USF that have significant impact on Tampa Bay’s economic growth:
The USF Heart Institute Launched Its Genomics Laboratory in May 2013
The institute opened its genomics laboratory on the fifth floor of the Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute to study genomics, regenerative medicine,personalized medicine and the prevention and treatment of heart diseases.
Funds totalling $8.9 million for the laboratory came from the state of Florida and Hillsborough County. Job opportunities that arose from this project include jobs for faculty and post-doctoral fellows and technicians.
Tampa/Hillsborough Economic Development Corp. Promotes Tampa Bay as Health Care Hub
Tampa Bay leaders believe that the region can be the Silicon Valley of the health care industry. With the continuing significant research achievements of the University of South Florida, the leadership of Moffitt Cancer Center in cancer research and treatment and with the abundance of medical device makers and pharmaceutical manufacturers in the Tampa Bay region, this vision can become a reality in the next several years.
USF Receives $2.8 Million in Funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for Breast Cancer and Genetic Testing Research
Together with leading health care benefit provider Aetna, the University of South Florida will use the $2.8 million research grant given by the NIH to study the impact of genetic testing on how breast cancer patients and their doctors decide on their treatment options. The five-year study titled American BRCA Outcomes Among the Recently Diagnosed (ABOARD) will study 5,000 Aetna members from across the U.S. who have been recently diagnosed with breast cancer and who are undergoing or who have undergone genetic testing.
USF Partnering with Medical Device Makers and Other Health Care Firms in Developing Products
The University of South Florida Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CALMS) has been creating public-private partnerships with medical device makers, medical and aviation simulation companies and other health-care related enterprises to develop products that can transform medical research, diagnosis and treatment. Across Florida, there are more than 660 medical device manufacturers employing almost 21,000 workers at an average wage of $60,677.
Research Partnership Between USF and New Energy Technologies Leads to Fabrication of Glass Windows that Can Geneerate Electricity
Maryland-based New Energy Technologies’ research partnership with the University of South Florida has led to the development of a patent-pending spray technology that will improve the power conversion efficiency of New Energy Technologies’ SolarWindow photovoltaic technology, which is nearing commercialization for application by commercial buildings and houses in generating electricity using their glass windows, and using the best electrician to work on the installation of this new technology.
As Tampa Bay region becomes a leading health care and medical hub in the country, other industries such as real estate will certainly follow with fast growth, as more employees relocate and more employees move up.