Kannapolis, North Carolina, United States
The North Carolina Research Campus announced at a news conference that PPD, Inc. (PPD), a global contract research organization, is opening an office at the campus, which may bring 200 to 300 new jobs. The jobs will be added over a 24-to-36-month period and will focus on clinical research.
"When I promised three years ago that the NC Research Campus would attract the greatest scientists and companies in the world to create cures for our most deadly and debilitating diseases, it was with companies like PPD in mind," said David H. Murdock, chairman and owner of Castle & Cooke, Inc. and Dole Food Company, Inc. "The presence of PPD is only the beginning; the future is bright."
Leaders from the scientific, medical, economic development and business communities participated in the news conference at the NC Research Campus to lay out the importance of the new announcement, including Dr. Andrew Conrad, NC Research Campus' chief scientific officer; Norris Tolson, president and CEO of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center; Carol Lovin, senior vice president of Carolinas HealthCare System's Management Company; James McDeavitt, M.D., senior vice president of education and research for Carolinas Healthcare Center; Ronnie Bryant, president and CEO of the Charlotte Regional Partnership; N.C. Senator Fletcher Hartsell, Kannapolis Mayor Bob Misenheimer, Cabarrus County Commissioner Chairman Jay White and John Cox, president and CEO of the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce.
"For a couple of years, I have heard many great things about the NC Research Campus," said Fred Eshelman, CEO of PPD, based in Wilmington, N.C. "After meeting with Mr. Murdock and visiting the campus, I realized this project is a once-in-a lifetime opportunity where industry and academic scientists can freely collaborate to bring innovations in scientific research to market, increasing the length and quality of human life."
For Clyde Higgs, vice president of business development for the NC Research Campus, PPD's presence is indicative of a great plan, great people and a great mission coming together to create a one-of-a-kind research environment.
"You are beginning to see that buildings aren't the only thing rising in Kannapolis," said Higgs. "Having a global contract research organization like PPD at the research campus continues our mission to make the NC Research Campus the world's top scientific community that will be the home of groundbreaking research and development."
PPD's expansion of its contract research operations into the 40,000 square foot office space will provide hundreds of jobs for clinical research associates, clinical project managers and other medical and scientific personnel to collaborate with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to develop life-saving therapies. PPD will co-locate with Carolinas Healthcare System in the Medical Office Building at the NC Research Campus.
As positions become available at the NC Research Campus, staffing these positions will be a high priority. In response to these job opportunities, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is developing a certificate and degree program for clinical research associates.
In addition to researchers from Duke University, the University of North Carolina system and the N.C. Community College System, the NC Research Campus houses operations from companies like Anatomics, Angiogen, Carolinas Healthcare System and Red Hat.
About the North Carolina Research Campus
Planned as a public-private collaboration, the North Carolina Research Campus combines the research power of world-renowned universities and workforce training programs with the know-how of business. This "dream team" includes David H. Murdock, Duke University, the University of North Carolina system and the N.C. Community College System.
Other features of the research campus (www.ncresearchcampus.net) include:
-- A 350-acre campus that complements North Carolina's biotech corridor.
-- An initial 311,000-square-foot building to house the core laboratory, a state-of-the-art research facility and tenants. The David H. Murdock Core Laboratory, to be owned by a public charity created and funded by David Murdock, will feature the most advanced equipment available in the areas of Molecular Genomics, Proteomics, Metabolomics, Bioinformatics, and will include Analytical Chemistry, Animal Imaging, Histochemistry, Microscopy, and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance laboratories. Many of the pieces of equipment are the first of their kind in the world, including the Bruker Biospin 950 MHz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectrometer, the 454 series of DNA sequencers and a multi-laser source cyclotron.
-- One million square feet of office and laboratory space.
About PPD
PPD is a leading global contract research organization providing discovery, development and post-approval services as well as compound partnering programs. Our clients and partners include pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, academic and government organizations. With offices in 30 countries and more than 10,200 professionals worldwide, PPD applies innovative technologies, therapeutic expertise and a commitment to quality to help its clients and partners maximize returns on their R&D investments and accelerate the delivery of safe and effective therapeutics to patients. For more information, visit our Web site at http://www.ppdi.com.
Source: Business Wire (Business Wire India)