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Dr. Steven Bares, executive director and president of MBF.

The year 2006 for Memphis Bioworks Foundation (MBF) ended with a bang — literally.

In November, MBF, a nonprofit organization charged with facilitating the growth of Memphis into a leading center for bioscience, handled the nation's largest implosion project of the year when the 924,000-square-foot former UT-Baptist building was demolished to clear ground for construction of the new UT-Baptist Research Park.

"Not only is this the largest implosion in the United States this year, but it also marks a significant step forward for the bioscience industry in Memphis. We are literally clearing the path for future growth," said Dr. Steven Bares, executive director and president of MBF.

The demolition debris is being removed to make way for new world-class facilities that will house five research and office buildings and for the development of new biotech businesses and jobs.

Baptist Memorial Health Care donated to MBF the property on which the former Baptist Memorial Hospital-Medical Center was located. The University of Tennessee Medical School is located next door to the new research campus. Bares, no stranger to research, has both a PhD in physical chemistry and an MBA. He has published many articles, authored nine patents, and headed the product development of 15 novel technologies. In addition, he cofounded MBF.

Bares said the new bioscience research campus will benefit the neighboring downtown medical area and other medical facilities in surrounding Memphis region by upgrading clinical trials. Upgrading the clinical trials will mean more cutting edge treatment options available for physicians' patients, he pointed out.

One of the unique medical field advantages Bares believes Memphis has over other cities is the concentration of solid musculoskeletal companies already located in the Memphis area. He said these companies and others may help Memphis become a top center for musculoskeletal research. In addition, since a regional initiative for biofuels is already in motion, future work done at the foundation could possibly play a role in biofuels research.

Earlier this year, the Memphis Business Journal named MBF the Best Place to Work in Memphis in the category of companies with 50 employees or less.

Also this year, Harry Travis was named as the executive in residence for MBF. Travis was previously the COO of the Accredo Nova Factor Division of Accredo Health Group and has had 20 years of experience working in medical device and pharmaceutical companies. Accredo is a major mail-order pharmacy working with bioengineered drugs for various diseases, such as cancer and multiple sclerosis. Travis has also worked with NSS Cardinal Health and Baxter HealthCare Corporation.

Part of Travis' work will include the facilitation of recruiting new companies to Memphis. He will also be developing a strategy to help the foundation achieve its goal of becoming a world-class biologistics center.

A study done by a leading independent technology research firm describes Memphis as "the only region among the benchmarks to have four out of the five bioscience sectors stand above the national level of concentration, with three of the sectors, medical devices, hospitals, and organic chemicals – reaching a (high) level of regional specialization."

"Memphis definitely has the capabilities and reputation to become the biologistics center of the nation. Part of my job will be to create the path to get us there," said Travis.

Also this year, MBF added a sixth grade to its sponsored charter school, Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering. The academy helps prepare middle and high school children for the scientific workforce and is part of the foundation's community initiative for education.

"By building infrastructure, growing the workforce, and promoting entrepreneurship, the Memphis Bioworks Foundation is facilitating the process of making Memphis a leader in bioscience," said Bares.





December 2006

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