The Life Sciences sector has become an important driver of economic growth and development in the 21st century.
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Regional Cooperation |
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In 2003, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Dallas Regional Chamber, North Texas Commission, and the Health Industry Council established the DFW Life Sciences Partnership to foster the area’s growth of the broad life sciences market and research activities. The organization BioDFW represents a working alliance of industry, education, government and organizations that support and promote the life sciences and the region’s strength as a global participant in biotechnology and related fields, such as pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and medical devices.
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Established Presence |
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The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex region currently has more than 460 biomedical technology companies ranging from pharmaceutical companies to startup companies, and approximately 1,100 research, development and testing laboratories.
Fort Worth is home to Alcon’s U.S. Operations Headquarters. As the region’s largest life science company, Alcon employees 3,182 people. Alcon is a $3 - 4-billion global pharmaceutical company specializing in ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, surgical and vision care products.
Galderma, one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, focuses exclusively on research, development and marketing of dermatological products. Fort Worth is home to Galderma’s U.S. headquarters.
Fort Worth-based Healthpoint Ltd. has established a U.S. presence in the research, development, and marketing of branded pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter drugs, and medical devices for tissue management, dermatology and infection prevention.
Several other reputable life science firms have a significant presence in Fort Worth.
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Technical Education Resources |
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More than 40 North Texas colleges, universities and special facilities conduct research and offer programs. Areas include bioengineering, bioinformatics, biology, computational biology, chemistry, genomics, microbiology, microelectronics, nanoscience, pharmacology, proteomics and telemedicine. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is also the birthplace of nanotechnology.
The University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth is committed to providing educational research and programming in the biomedical/ life sciences field. UNTHSC houses the Graduate School of Biotechnology and Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, among other medical related programs.
UNT Health Science Center constructed a new $75-million, 100,000-square-foot Center for BioHealth in the heart of Fort Worth’s cultural district. The facility houses research and drug development laboratories for Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive disorders; a diabetes research center; a non-invasive diagnostic imaging center; environmental and occupational health, epidemiology, biostatistics and bioterrorism research and education centers.
In April 2005, UNTHSC was awarded a $6-million grant from the National Institutes of Health to continue studying effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.
The State of Texas Missing Persons DNA database facility, a DNA paternity testing laboratory and DNA forensic research unit or crime lab can also be found in Fort Worth at the UNT Health Science Center.
The University of Texas at Arlington is home to the preeminent university-based nanotechnology research, development and teaching facility in North Texas.
Five Nobel Laureates and 16 Academy of Sciences members work at Dallas-Fort Worth institutions.
Incubators for start-ups in four major communities are situated close to academic and clinical settings.
Tech Fort Worth, a privately funded non-profit business incubator, provides specialized and industry-specific business assistance to technology start-up companies. A strategic partnership established between Tech Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Business Assistance Center (the BAC) to allow the participants in the Incubator access to the service providers located at the BAC.
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Related Industry |
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Fort Worth's Medical District is home to several medical centers and hospitals including:
These facilities employ approximately 4,000 physicians, as well as thousands of technical specialists, who provide healthcare services that enrich the quality of life for Fort Worth residents.
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Supporting Organizations |
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- The Fort Worth Life Sciences Coalition was formed in mid-2002 and is comprised non-profit, for-profit, small and large businesses; academics; and health care professionals who are concerned about the biosciences efforts in Fort Worth.
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Specialized Incentive Tools |
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Recognizing the importance of attracting cutting edge life sciences development, the State of Texas created the Emerging Technology Fund. This tool compliments the State’s “deal closing fund,” the Texas Enterprise Fund, as a way to develop these quality projects in Texas.
The City of Fort Worth also offers a wide array of incentives for life science companies looking to locate their operations in Fort Worth.
For more information contact:
Melonye Whitson
Director of Local Business Development
817-336-2491 x 235
mwhitson@fortworthchamber.com
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