The impact

Finding cures

The Biomedical Discovery District is designed to capitalize on the idea that discoveries happen where disciplines meet. Such as when basic scientists researching cancer-causing molecules interact with clinical researchers who treat patients living with the disease, discoveries happen.

The District combines the University’s depth and breadth of research strength with state-of-the-art facilities that encourage collaboration. The result is that new cures, treatments and tools for disease prevention are found here.

1996

Karen Ashe develops first mouse model that shows human-like symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease

2004

Researchers test a vaccine against the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection that can cause cervical cancer.
African-Americans with heart failure have 43% increase in survival with use of a drug developed by U cardiologist Jay Cohn.

2005

Karen Ashe reverses memory loss in the mouse model.
Tobacco researchers find the nicotine vaccine appears safe, well-tolerated, and a potentially effective method for helping smokers kick the habit.

2006

Walt Low discovers cells in umbilical cord blood that act like primitive stem cells. When injected into animal models of stroke, the animals regained limb use.
Karen Ashe discovers substance in the brain that is proven to cause memory loss, giving drug makers a target for new treatment.

2007

Researchers report that umbilical cord blood transplants may offer blood cancer patients better outcomes than bone marrow transplants.
Cardiologists discover that treating people who have early cardiovascular abnormalities, but show no symptoms of disease, can slow progression and even reverse heart and vessel damage.
Researchers begin study of safety and optimal dose of T-regulatory cells to decrease the risk of immune reactions common in blood and marrow transplant patients.
Doctors perform the first bone marrow and cord blood transplant to treat recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB), a rare and fatal skin disease.

2008

Doris Taylor creates a beating animal heart in her laboratory. The technique shows promise for creating other organs as well.
U is leading center for implanting ventricular assist devices, which serve as a bridge to heart transplant.
Physicians announce that they have corrected the underlying biochemical deficiency in patients with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB)Medical School & College of Veterinary Medicine researchers develop gene and vaccine therapy to treat a dog with brain tumor.

2009

Dan Kaufman proves the effectiveness of human embryonic stem cell-derived natural killer cells in killing leukemia in a mouse model. The cells also can kill breast cancer, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and brain tumor cells in the laboratory.

Creating Jobs

The construction of the Biomedical Discovery District was possible because of support from the State of Minnesota, the University, and private donors.

As an incubator for new ideas and products, the Biomedical Discovery District will bolster Minnesota’s economy, firmly positioning the state as a leader in the bioscience industry. The economic impact of the District is truly impressive:

It will generate research dollars: Researchers in the District are expected to attract as much as $40 million in new research funding each year.
It will create jobs: In the short term, the District will have created approximately 5,000 construction jobs; and in the long term, grow biomedical science jobs at the University and in Minnesota’s biomedical industry.
Research money multiplies in the community: Every $1 million of federally sponsored research generates more than $2 million in new state business activity in Minnesota.