Legislators Praise UConn's Cell and Genome Research at Dedication

Days before his budget is to be unveiled, Gov. Dannel Malloy told University of Connecticut researchers and state legislators that he is “prepared to be a friend” to the university.

The governor joined legislators, Uconn leaders and officials from across the state for the dedication of the University of Connecticut’s Cell and Genome Sciences Building, at 400 Farmington Ave. in Farmington Monday afternoon.

"What a day for Farmington,” began state Sen. Beth Bye. “Our universities are jewels and this project takes advantage of this opportunity to bring jobs, and high-tech jobs, for the future. It’s so important for our health center and for our state’s future.”

The theme of the potential for changing lives through ground-breaking medical research echoed alongside the promise of boosting the state’s economy with high-tech jobs.

“It is itself a building,” Malloy said, “but what it represents in the state of Connecticut in research, jobs and medical advancements is tremendous.”

Philip Austin, UConn president, thanked the legislators whose foresight has placed the university on the cutting edge of medical research.

“Because of the state’s action in 2005 to commit funding to stem cell research and training programs with $100 million over 10 years, Connecticut has been put on the map as a place where innovative and ground-breaking research in stem cells is being conducted,” Austin said.

U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy recalled the process of getting the project approved. Though the motion had already failed once, he and state Sen. Gary LeBeau and state Sen. Kevin Sullivan decided to bring it to debate again when, he said, something amazing happened.

“It was the most organic, human debate. Senators became moved by the potential of stem cell research and they started to get up and share stories of their families,” Murphy said. “Senators cried on the floor.”

But, Murphy continued, agreeing with state Rep. Pam Sawyer, “we didn’t know what it would mean to our economy. Thousands of people are employed here in Connecticut and there are thousands more to come. It has always been about emotions with stem cell research but it’s also about the economy.”

He described an 8-year-old girl, Rachel Adams, living with juvenile diabetes who urged that stem cell research be funded.

“This research will mean that less little girls will have to come to the halls of Congress and plead for funding because you’ll make their lives better by what you do within these walls,” Murphy said.

The Cell and Genome Sciences Building houses high-tech research including the UConn Stem Cell Core, genetic sequencing, computer modeling and incubator space for emerging bioscience industries. The 120,000 square-foot facility is equipped with the latest technologies and was designed to encourage researchers to work together on treatments for neurological diseases, cancer, obesity and others.