Malloy Opens Stem Cell Conference

Gov. Dannel Malloy was in Farmington today, giving the opening statement at StemCONN and celebrating the success of Connecticut’s stem cell research industry and promising the state would continue to offer support.

StemCONN, held every two years is an international symposium on stem cell research that highlights the most exciting discoveries in the field and brings together prominent scientists, academics and leaders. Previously, StemCONN has been held in Hartford, to celebrate the decision to fund stem cell research and later in New Haven, the home of Yale University’s successful program. Today, it’s being held at the Marriott in Farmington.

As part of the event, participants toured UConn’s new Cell and Genome Sciences Building, which has helped make UConn a major player in the field, said Courtney Hendricson, Farmington’s economic development director.

Hendricson was at the event to emphasize that Farmington is open for business.

That was Malloy’s message, too.

“Connecticut supports you,” Malloy told the group of researchers and students. “Your work in this industry, your willingness to be involved in the research fits well with the work that Connecticut has done historically.”

Despite being a small state, Connecticut has made huge strides in stem cell research, including embryonic, he said. Malloy announced that a new economic development body would be reenergized to support the field of stem cell research.

“There’s precious little we won’t do to compete with New York and Boston,” he said. “We are going to make sure future development takes place here in Connecticut.”

Malloy and other speakers were celebrating five years into a 10-year commitment to fund stem cell research at $10 million a year.

StemCONN participants began the day at 7:45 a.m. with a discussion on how the industry might move toward commercialization. The governor touted the industry’s ability to bring jobs.

“We look to commercialization but we understand that has a long way to go,” he said.

Malloy touted Connecticut as a great place to do business with people doing amazing things, including making the best engines, submarines, insurance policies and research at Connecticut universities.

“You could not go to a place that would have a better workforce,” he said, or find people who are “more industrious or more committed.”

To criticism that Connecticut is too expensive, Malloy said, “you want expensive look at Shanghai or Boston — we’re cheap!”

In addition, he said, Connecticut is a great place to live. His support for stem cell research is personal he said, applauding the audience for being “on the front lines in so many ways of making lives better.”

“Just remember,” he said, “that Dannel Malloy came by to argue his case and the case for Connecticut.”