Branford Welcomes Mount Sinai Genomics Research Center

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy took the first official tour of a new genomics research lab yesterday, a lab that brings the renowned Icahn Institute at Mount Sinai to Branford. The arrival of state-of-the art DNA lab expands a long-range plan to create a new biomedical industry for Connecticut. And Branford is a big part of the plan. 

With 12 days to go before the election, Malloy, along with members of the town’s legislative delegation, came to Branford to announce the arrival of a new business along with new jobs. They toured the new generation sequencing lab at the site of what once was Roche’s 454 Life Sciences facility at 1 Commercial Dr. The new Mount Sinai facility is expected to open soon. It will join Yale, the University of Connecticut Health Center and Jackson Labs in Malloy’s effort to reconfigure the economic future of the state along with advancing health research. 

Besides attracting one of the main biomedical research facilities in the world, the governor said, he expects 142 new full-time jobs to come to Branford over the next five years. Others predicted higher numbers.

DNA sequencing, which will take place at the new lab, will advance research and develop new clinical tests for major diseases, including cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s, said Dr. Eric Schadt, founding director of the Icahn Institute for Genomics and Multi-scale Biology.

“The discovery of cutting-edge new personalized medicine offers hope to people with serious illnesses and means a better quality of life for people around the world,” the governor said.

High Quality Labor Force Nearby

Andrew Kasarskis, the co-director of the Icahn Institute for Genomic and Multi-scale Biology at Mount Sinai, told the Eagle in an interview that the Icahn Institute was looking for a state ​“with a high quality, well-educated labor force. There were facilities here and a large pool of highly trained staff. The facility needed highly skilled people. We have gotten very, very good strong support from the state and from the first selectman [Jamie Cosgrove], who helped us a lot in streamlining the process.”

Cosgrove attended the event and said he appreciated the commitment Gov. Malloy had made to Branford ​“and to the needs of our local taxpayers.” He described the new Mount Sinai facility ​“as an important new employer in our town and this funding commitment by the state is key to their ability to expand jobs here.”

Kasarskis also had high praise for the state Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and its commissioner, Catherine Smith, who also attended the event.

“Her office was absolutely phenomenal. I have never seen anything like it and they were a pleasure to work with. We went there on May 1 and we are here now,” he said.

The new Mount Sinai facility in Branford came into being in a record four months and top scientists at the facility praised the state’s efforts, saying it was nothing short of extraordinary.

Smith directed the financing for the Mount Sinai project, providing a $9.5 million low-interest loan, which includes the 16,500 square foot lab, plus equipment and other costs. If the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai achieves the job milestones set for the project, the loan provides forgiveness provisions of up to $7.25 million. 

Reconfiguring the Economy

Malloy, State Sen. Ed Meyer, and State Reps. Pat Widlitz (D‑98th) and Lonnie Reed (D‑102nd) said the arrival of the Mount Sinai group in Branford signaled the latest state effort to redefine the state’s economic future.

Rep. Reed, who is seeking reelection, has been a leader in bringing new bio-science and information companies to Branford. With the companies have come new employees and new residents, many of whom now live in Branford and Guilford.

Reed co-chairs the legislature’s Bipartisan Life Sciences Caucus and she was key in recruiting these firms, including bringing Durata Therapeutics to Branford in 2012. The company has since expanded. Click here to read about it.

Last year, at the University of Connecticut Health Center, Gov. Malloy signed a bill to create a Bioscience Innovation Fund. The $200 million fund will make investments over the next 10 years in the form of grants, equity investments, loans and loan guarantees to foster innovation in smaller companies across the state.

Another company she and Widlitz, Meyer and the governor helped become a success story is Core Informatics LLC, a software technology company. With the help of the state, Core Informatics achieved an $8.4 million expansion of its Branford headquarters, along with 69 new jobs. Click here to read the story.

Dr. Schadt was on hand to welcome Gov. Malloy, saying ​“this was the birthplace NGS sequencing.” He told the governor Mount Sinai hopes to form ​“significant collaborations and partnerships with Yale, UConn and the Jackson Labs.” He, too, thanked the governor and Commissioner Smith for ​“their phenomenal support and partnership to help accelerate our growth.”

The former 454 lab on Commercial Drive was the right spot for many reasons, he said. It had been a Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) facility in the past. Al Secondino, a well-known Branford building contractor, re-configured the space in eight weeks, he told the Eagle. He attended the event.

The new Mount Sinai lab hired a number of 454 employees, including Todd E. Arnold, who is the new managing director. He led the tour, explaining the various machines the lab uses in its work. He was formerly vice-president of research and development at 454.

Unlike the rest of the well-suited group, Dr. Schadt met the governor in casual clothes, wearing shorts and a golf shirt, his statement on innovation for the day. He hails from Palo Alto and that’s what he told Malloy. 

“I’m dressing Palo Alto,” Dr. Schadt said.

Rep. Reed followed-up, saying, ​“And governor, this is his formal wear.”

The governor responded, smiling, ​“I feel I’m getting casual when I don’t wear a tie.”

Dr. Schadt fit right into the Branford life style – cool, casual and creative.

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