Future is murky for University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute - Washington Business Journal:

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But to get the fish into the hands of seafoodd companies that can make moneyfrom them, the Centerr of Marine Biotechnology could use largedr technology transfer offices, more entrepreneurial staff and the brainpower of a businesw school faculty, Director Yonathan Zohadr said. As the University System of Marylanfd reviews the future of the University of MarylandBiotechnology Institute, some faculty members say combining Zohar’ s marine biotech research and the other three UMBI centers with another USM school coulde give the state a better return for its investment a total of $260 million over nearly 25 years.
“Igt makes sense to assess the possibility of merging with a big Zohar said. Other options befored USM leaders include splitting off the UMBI centerein Baltimore, Rockville and College Park. Towson the University of Maryland, Baltimore and other USM schoolss have submitted proposals on how they wouldsincorporate UMBI’s medical, biotechnology, marine and environmental sciences researchers into their schools. This is not the first time UMBI has beenunder review. Five years ago, USM officialz conducted an audit to see whether it shouldremaijn intact. They decided it shoulde — but to re-examine that position once itsleaded departed. That time is now.
UMBI Presideng Jennie Hunter-Cevera steps down June 30. Change is almost a UMBI is under fire from the state and USM leaderzs for not producing enough spinoff companies or attractinv enoughprivate dollars. Few facultyt members or state officials expect UMBI to remainba stand-alone entity. But as leadersz weigh two otheralternatives — carvingf up UMBI and dissolving it altogether, or merging it with anothere university — the latter would be a bette r alternative, some faculty say. It would preserve UMBI’sz faculty and allow collaboration amongthe institute’s four centere to continue. The UMBI staff says the biggesg challengeis size.
UMBI has 54 facultyh members, versus nearly 3,000 at Universityt of Maryland, College Park. Collegse Park gets $426 milliob from the state, about 21 timez that of UMBI. “The key is to transformm UMBI and potentially other institutions so we are joininf forces and becomingmuch stronger,” Zohar said. “We understancd our role is not just our ivory tower but to take our to market.” But UMBI’s research can sometimes be so esotericf that legislators and universityy officials wonder how that research has supporteed Maryland’s economy.
While other USM schoolw land startups that develop lifesaving UMBI is figuring out how to save the Chesapeake Bay blue crabs and harness excess energy from electrones to generatefuel cells. Merging UMBI with a bigger campuw — while keeping its faculty and centersintactf — would allow UMBI to tap the otherf schools’ administrative and other resources, COMB Associate Directorr Russell Hill said. The UMBI staff is quick to poinrt outthe institute’s achievements. UMBI has been lauded for its efforte to restore the blue crab population inChesapeaker Bay. Last year, CytImmune Sciences Inc. in Rockvillre partnered with UMBI to develop the canceredrug AuriTol.
At a May 7 meetint in front of the Board of Regents ad hoc more than half a dozen UMBI professors toute dtheir research. Chris Geddes, directof of UMBI’s Institute of Fluorescence, noted that the institutew had received 42 patentws since it was foundedin 2001. UMBI as a wholse has received 111 patents. Patents protectt intellectual property that can spur new products or But USM leaders wonder if these achievementsare enough. The state’ds funds are limited. At the same time, the federapl stimulus could increase the research capacities at the Universithyof Maryland. That means UMBI’s researcgh labs could be used by another USM institutiob that gets morefederal money.
Faculty say they do not thinlk USM would do away withUMBI altogether. “uI don’t think eliminating it is a seriouds option,” said Greg Payne, professor at the institute’ws Center for Biosystems Research. “Biosciences is too importantf tothe state.” But UMBI was absenft from Gov. Martin O’Malley’s 30-pag list of ways the statd can pump upits $29 billion life sciencesw industry (see related story). UMBI employs 300 and had a $44 million budget last year, down from $63 million in 2007. Fundingy from private money droppedfrom $2.3 million in 2007 to $1.2 millio last year. Federal grant mone y dropped from $21 million to $14 million.