in this issue Responding to the Threat of Terrorism Luring Solutia's Pharma Services to Region Major UMass Life Sciences Event Planned for this Fall Brain Gain Could Influence Region's Future Companies Appreciate a "Thank You"

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Responding to the Threat of Terrorism

Query to Faculty: are you working on research that may have applications to public health, security and emergency preparedness? Let ILED know.

A working group of campus faculty, academic administrators and private sector partners has formed to explore the concept of a New England center for public health and emergency preparedness. The group is examining the opportunities for developing a partnership with the Commonwealth and with key partners in the areas of bio-medical applications, information technology and industry. This collaboration would create a research, development and education center to carry out medium-and long-term projects to help prepare New England state agencies and policy makers to respond effectively and in advance to the increasing threat of emergencies from terrorist activity and from natural causes. The federal government would be the primary source of funding for the center.

Deans Breslin and Gehlbach initiated the conversation and have involved several well-placed alumni in federal emergency planning. CS Department chair Bruce Croft sat on the NAS panel that produced the "Branscomb Report" on key technologies for anti-terrorism and other faculty have key contacts and research expertise. (See www.nap.edu/books/0309084814/html) The working group has been convened by Vice Chancellors Byron (Research) and Mullin (Outreach) and includes the deans of NSM (Osterweil), Engineering (Goldstein), FNR (Willis) as well as Public Health and Nursing.

For more information, contact any of the above or ILED staff, Jaymie Chernoff

	Luring Solutia's Pharma Services to Region
UMass research and its initiatives may play an important role in Solutia Pharma Services Division's choice of a location for their new acquisitions. Several department chairs and administrators have met with Solutia executives highlighting the quality of our programs and students, and the opportunities for collaboration. In early May, Vice Chancellor Byron and Assistant Vice Chancellor Chernoff (ILED) met with Pharma Services president, Ed Robinson. Solutia requested a follow-up visit to our campus on July 11 for Tim Noonan, head of Pharma Services Mergers and Acquisitions division and local Solutia managers. UMass participants included Dean Gehlbach (Public Health and Health Safety), Department Chairs Malone (Chemical Engineering), Lahti (Chemistry), Turkington (Math-Stat), Professor Larry Schwartz (Biology) and Dr. Paul Friedmann (Baystate Hospital Academic Affairs). Pharma Services is developing a portfolio of companies that support the drug development process for the Pharmaceutical Industry. Solutia recently acquired two Swiss companies, CarboGen and AMCIS, and a third company, Seattle-based AXIO. CarboGen does early stage process development for fine chemistry-based drug targets. AMCIS offers process optimization and small volume production, both for clinical trials and in-market supply. AXIO provides clinical trial services in the areas of biostatistics, data management, data safety monitoring boards, epidemiology and consulting. The quality and enthusiasm UMass has demonstrated to Solutia was positively received. The long-standing partnership with Solutia's chemical division in Indian Orchard, MA has also had an impact. If a Western Massachusetts location is chosen, we can expect expanded research collaborations and local job opportunities for our undergraduate and graduate students. More info about Solutia Pharma Services »

	Major UMass Life Sciences Event Planned for this Fall
The President's Office has confirmed with the Presidents of the Mass. Biotech Council and the Mass. Medical Devices Council that they will co-sponsor a major UMASS Life Science event this Fall (probably October at one of the hotels on 128 where the industry folks typically meet). These two councils are the leading state-wide industry associations representing several hundred life science companies across the state, including all the majors such as Genzyme, Biogen, Boston Scientific, etc. Thus, the purpose of this first-of-its-kind event will be to highlight UMASS -- in terms of education and workforce development, research, clinical trials, technology commercialization, etc. -- as a full-service university for the state's burgeoning life science industry. We think that this will be a very exciting opportunity for the system and the individual campuses to highlight the new MS/PhD degree in biotech, the rapid growth in R&D, the success with CVIP, the new life science facilities in Worcester and Boston (BioLab), any new plans at Amherst including the Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Initiative, etc. The planning for this event will be done by staff from the President's Office corporate relations unit (led by Kathy Phalen for this project) with campus partners to include ILED. Inquire about this event »

	Brain Gain Could Influence Region's Future
UMass Amherst is one of about thirty colleges and universities acting as institutional stakeholders and providers of educated employees to the Western New England regional economy. Census data show the Hartford-Springfield 'Knowledge Corridor' population is declining in the critical 25-44 age group, despite a large number of students enrolled in area colleges. Attracting and retaining a talented young workforce has now become an important regional economic development priority. Recently the Hartford-Springfield Economic Partnership commissioned a survey of graduating seniors to identify issues and potential actions toward keeping more of the region's 108,000 college students in the region after they graduate. ILED prepared and administered this survey, with the help of the OIT Data Analysis Group. This was reported in Issue 1 of "Industry ACCESS." The survey findings confirm what employers have long suspected: that the region is losing the majority of its employment-bound college graduates. Career-related reasons such as availability of jobs, higher pay, and perceptions of greater career opportunities are drawing college seniors outside the I-91 corridor after graduation. Only 30% of leavers, compared to 72% of stayers, rated the region positively for "suitability for starting a career." Now, the Hartford-Springfield Economic Partnership is looking for concrete ways to change this situation. At a June 12 roundtable discussion in Springfield, employers and academic leaders began to formulate ideas involving co-ops and internships, regional job fairs, and related topics. Action plans will be developed this fall by the Task Force led by Baystate Health Systems HR leader, Elizabeth Simpson. For further information, contact Michael Wright »

	Companies Appreciate a "Thank You"
Properly recording and acknowledging gifts received from industry is an important component of successful corporate relations. Experienced faculty recipients know that the donor company must be adequately recognized and the receiving unit properly credited with the accomplishment of the relationship. In most cases, the responsibility for this lies with the department receiving the donation. When ILED has been involved in the gift acquisition, ILED will process and acknowledge it. ILED has prepared an updated "Gift Processing and Acknowledgement Procedure" guide to help faculty and staff route gift information to appropriate offices on campus so that the institution's knowledge of corporate gifts is accurate and current. The Offices of Records and Gifts Processing, Development, and Grants and Contract Administration provided input. The guide also contains sample letters for your use. We will send copies to deans, department chairs, and business managers. It will also be available online with the new ILED website (coming soon). Request copy of Acknowledgement Guidelines »

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