St. Louis Post-Dispatch January 29, 2003 WU sets standard in studying life sciences By Rachel Melcer (Reprinted with permission from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch) Washington University Chancellor Mark Wrighton on Thursday will give hundreds of North American academic and urban leaders a lesson in how to succeed in life sciences, St. Louis-style. At a conference on "Great Universities and Their Cities," held by Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Wrighton will tout accomplishments that are perhaps underappreciated at home - but cause leaders elsewhere to turn green with envy. "Everybody, when you talk about life sciences initiatives, looks at Washington University as a model. . . . Over the last 10 to 15 years, they've moved up in the national limelight (and) really have set a standard," said Edward Hundert, president of Case Western Reserve. "But it's easy for people locally to forget that." Washington University,along with its School of Medicine, attracted $366 million in federal health and science research grants last fiscal year - placing it among a handful of elite universities nationwide. Those dollars translate into intellectual property that can be spun out into lucrative businesses, as well as into cutting-edge medical treatments for local hospitals. And the grants help bring top students and star researchers to town. "Washington University is talked about in the same breath with other first-tier universities in the country. (But) people in St. Louis take that for granted," said John Dubinsky, chairman of BJC HealthCare, the St. Louis region's largest health system and biggest employer. He will join Wrighton at the podium on Thursday. The university's academic and research achievements will draw a rapt crowd, Hundert said. But even more enticing will be the chance to learn about what some see as a greater accomplishment - Washington University's successful partnerships with BJC, the city and other public institutions. "It has been a contentious thing in other places," Hundert said, citing Cleveland's own history of friction between Case Western Reserve and nearby University Hospitals Health System. Washington University, in contrast, has formed a nearly seamless partnership with BJC that led to construction of the Center for Advanced Medicine and Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center - the region's only nationally designated cancer center. They have jointly built research facilities and, with support from the city, redeveloped much of the Central West End. And the university is a cornerstone of metro St. Louis efforts to become nationally known as a hub of life sciences industry. Washington University pledged to invest nearly $40 million in local venture capital funds, needed to fuel young companies. The Center for Emerging Technologies, a nearby incubator, houses several start-ups founded by Washington University researchers. "We at the university - together with people in the corporate world, civic leaders and government leaders in the region - have all been focused on strengthening our life sciences," Wrighton said. "Because great universities thrive when their communities are great, too." Dubinsky, also an officer of The Coalition for Plant and Life Sciences, which leads that charge for the business community, said the city's academic institutions are invaluable pieces of the puzzle. And - contrary to what naysayers might think - much progress has already been made. "While there are major issues that have yet to be resolved . . . we don't give ourselves nearly enough credit in St. Louis for these public, private and academic partnerships," he said. Having a strong university attracts talented students and researchers to a region. Having an established and growing industry and supportive community helps them to stay, Hundert said. And that is enough to make any city jealous. "Although helping the local economy is not the primary mission of universities, it is a benefit when things are done right," Hundert said. "St. Louis has pretty widely applicable lessons to be learned." Reporter Rachel Melcer; E-mail: rmelcer@post-dispatch.com; Phone: 314-340-8394 Copyright 2003, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Inc. (To see the St. Louis Post-Dispatch online, go to http://www.stltoday.com)