Crisco sees growth in stem cell-related businesses

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Joseph Crisco

HARTFORD — In the eyes of state Sen. Joseph Crisco (D-17), the state is poised for growth in the stem cell and genetics research industries.

Crisco was among those briefed on the subject at a special Legislative Office Building forum last week, according to a release issued by his office.

Crisco said, in the statement, Connecticut’s investments in genomic and stem cell research are setting the stage for a new generation of high-tech jobs and economic growth, centered on the research underway at Yale, Wesleyan, and the University of Connecticut.

“The work underway by scientists at Yale and UConn has already resulted in new patents and innovations that are likely to translate into new jobs in the field of bioscience and personalized medicine,” Crisco said in the release. “Connecticut is well positioned to attract the type of private sector investment necessary to capitalize on our public investments in research and development.”

The forum was convened by the legislature’s Appropriations Committee, according to the release.

“Our decisions to invest modestly and steadily in this emerging field are expected to return additional dividends as a direct result of last year’s move to bring the Jackson Laboratory to the state to continue its stem cell and genomics research near and in conjunction with the UConn Health Center in Farmington,” Crisco said. “Jackson Labs is scheduled to break ground soon after the first of the year as additional, bricks and mortar evidence of growth and economic development in this relatively new sector of our economy.”