<p>While several major players in the field of biotechnology prepare to set up "satellites" in Florida, the state already has an active bioscience hub right here in North Central Florida.</p>
<p>On Tuesday, some of the 400 participants in the two-day BioFlorida conference heard University of Florida researchers Dennis Steindler, Richard Moyer and others describe advances in fields as diverse as regenerative medicine and control of emerging pathogens made by UF scientists.</p>
<p>As part of an initiative described as "bench to bedside," any number of area biotechnology companies are exploring the potential of taking discoveries from UF's laboratories and translating them into therapies to treat human disease.</p>
<p>Scientists hope that stem cells such as those being studied by Steindler, who is the executive director of UF's McKnight Brain Institute, can provide a basis for treating conditions such as Parkinson's disease, diabetes and heart disease. Laboratory research may show whether they could be valuable for other uses, such as screening new drugs or toxins.</p>
<p>"Stem cell research and regenerative medicine is not about hype, but hope," Steindler told an audience of about 50 in the Hilton hotel.</p>
<p>Steindler is one of a group of 15 scientists who have the task of awarding $3 billion in grants for stem cell-related research over the next decade through the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.</p>
<p>California voters created the institute when they approved a measure calling for the state to issue bonds to fund $300 million annually in stem cell research for 10 years.</p>
<p>Steindler says that any research into regenerative medicine done anywhere in the world has the potential to benefit both the McKnight Brain Institute and the residents of Florida, if merely by virtue of introducing new technologies.</p>
<p>As founding director of the Emerging Pathogens Institute at UF, Richard Moyer is leading a research group that looks at some potentially deadly viruses and bacteria. Their goal: to prepare today for an uncertain future.</p>
<p>Moyer said the interest in pathogens that can be transmitted in water, air, food or blood, perhaps leading to an epidemic, was spurred by the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 and the later anthrax scare.</p>
<p>"Suddenly, everybody thought they had anthrax, and the capacity of laboratories to do definitive testing was quickly overwhelmed," Moyer said.</p>
<p>The Emerging Pathogens Institute will take occupancy of a new building on the UF campus in August 2008, located between the new Cancer and Genetics Research Complex and Archer Road.</p>
<p>Among the many biotech firms now operating in Alachua County, Moyer sees a number of potential commercial outlets for discoveries made in the laboratories of the EPI. First among them would be the development and production of vaccines.</p>
<p>Still to be determined is the climate for bioscience and biotechnology research under the incoming governor, Charlie Crist.</p>
<p>Crist has indicated in his campaign platform that he supports stem cell research. Steindler presumes Crist is speaking of adult, not embryonic, stem cells, but added that he hopes to see more legislative support for research into regenerative medicine.</p>
<p>Without funding, he warns, Florida is likely to lose many of its outstanding research scientists.</p>