MichBio creates new institute to increase opportunities for research, funding

MichBio wants it done right so it plans to do it itself. That is, create an institute that will help small but growing life sciences companies an opportunity to flourish in Michigan.
 

“Our hope is to lead an initiative that will be a roadmap for the life sciences industry in the state,” says Stephen Rapundalo, executive director of MichBio. “We didn’t see anybody else doing it so we decided to step up to the plate.

On deck is the newly former MichBio Institute, which will focus on intiatives from on an educational standpoint while MichBio proper will act more like a chamber of commerce for state’s life sciences industry.

“The institute is primarily to open up greater opportunities for funding and to explore the opportunities we have for research,” Rapundalo says.

But the first step is to raise funds and form a board of directors for the new institute. Rapundalo hopes to submit a grant proposal for the institute early this summer and have the institute on firmer ground later this year.

Source: Stephen Rapundalo, executive director of MichBio
Writer: Jon Zemke