Life Science Partnership
Greater Owensboro Life Science Parnterhip
Nucleus of the Plant Natural Product Industry
High-tech entrepreneurs and start-up companies love Kentucky’s world class research institutions and early stage funding resources, all linked to the Greater Owensboro Life Science Partnership which is committed to establishing the Greater Owensboro Region as a world center of the plant natural product and plant made pharmaceutical industry. Click here for more information.
Nucleus of the Plant Natural Product Industry
The Greater Owensboro Life Science Partnership is committed to establishing the Greater Owensboro Region as a world center of the plant natural product and plant made pharmaceutical industry.
Kentucky Bioprocessing, LLC (KBP) is a contract bioprocessor with state-of-the-art facilities, experienced personnel and intellectual property providing customers with an unequaled quality and range of bioprocessing services. Customers are worked with on a confidential basis to extract purified proteins and other value added products from plants and other organic materials.
KBP offers a unique pilot and full-scale bioprocessing facility with physical, human, and intellectual infrastructure in place to complete any bioprocessing without excessive experimentation. This facility and capabilities allow for processing of bench-top quantities through full-scale production under cGMP conditions when required.
The Owensboro Medical Health System (OMHS) established KBP as a for-profit limited liability company. OMHS is a non-profit hospital system that has made a commitment to the community of Owensboro to build a comprehensive cancer research center. Through its relationship with the University of Louisville’s James Graham Brown Cancer Center and its recent establishment of KBP, OMHS has demonstrated a commitment to establishing the Owensboro area as a world center of the plant made natural product and plant made pharmaceutical development and production industry.
The Owensboro Cancer Research Program (OCRP)- Through its "Bench to Bedside", OMHS is establishing itself as a cutting edge facility for groundbreaking biopharmaceutical research through its partnership with the James Graham Brown Cancer Center at the University of Louisville. The facilities, which include four state-of-the-art 1,000 square foot labs, are designed to support five to six U of L researchers who will collaborate with and support researchers James Graham Brown Cancer Center. Currently, there are three full-time research scientists working in the OCRP labs. Click here to read more about this partnership.
Agricultural Hub- Owensboro’s farmers have demonstrated experience and enthusiasm in the production of crops for use in biotechnology products. These farmers have joined to form the Owensboro Biotech Alliance. The Alliance fosters partnerships between agriculture, higher education and regional life science industry as well as support training and compliance with USDA regulations.
Emerging Entrepreneurial Atmosphere- the region is home to a strong entrepreneurial spirit. The Greater Owensboro Venture Club offers a network for angel investments and Emerging Ventures Center for Innovation, part of Kentucky’s Innovation and Commercialization framework, offers free management training and will help in developing business plans and obtaining private funding. Kentucky is the only state to match both Phase 1 and Phase 2 SBIR-STTR awards to high-tech businesses.
World Class Research Universities- The Greater Owensboro Life Science Partnership is linked to both of Kentucky’s research universities. The University of Louisville currently has three research scientists working through the Owensboro Cancer Research Program with plans to have six located in the lab facility. The University of Kentucky Tobacco Research Development Center is currently linked to regional agriculture through the Owensboro Biotech Alliance which grow tobacco and other crops for use in biotechnology products.
Highly Skilled Workforce- The Life Science Partnership enjoys collaborations with other providers of postsecondary education in the region to develop a highly skilled workforce in all aspects of the regional life sciences. The Owensboro Community and Technical College offers Kentucky’s only associate’s degree in biotechnology; the $25 million Advanced Technology Center at OCTC offers a dedicated biotechnology lab. Kentucky Wesleyan College Yu Hak Hahn Science Center boasts laboratories with the industry’s latest technologies. Western Kentucky University offers both a bachelor’s and mater’s degree in biotechnology and provides applied research opportunities for students to get hands-on experience.
