Press Releases

Hepatitis B Foundation and Delaware Valley College partnership to provide homes to biotech start-ups and academic researchers

Doylestown, Pa., December 1, 2005 — The Hepatitis B Foundation and Delaware Valley College today announced that they have purchased a warehouse and office building in Doylestown as part of a cooperative effort to develop a new biotechnology center.

The center will be dedicated to nurturing new ideas, start-up companies and providing resources for nonprofit research organizations, said Dr. Tim Block, President of the Hepatitis B Foundation.

“This is an exciting, major effort that will maximize synergies between nonprofit scientists and their commercial colleagues,” said Dr. Block. “We will be able to accomplish much more, in partnership with biotechnology companies in this space, than would be possible alone. This facility will help expand our efforts to assist both those affected by viral hepatitis, and to develop biotechnology businesses in our region.”

Academic researchers can see their ideas turn into useful products by working with the start-up companies that will be their neighbors in the new facility. Beyond technology transfer, the center will play a crucial role in the education of tomorrow’s researchers, said Dr. Thomas C. Leamer, President of Delaware Valley College.

“Establishing this center enhances the potential of our programs, particularly in the emerging technologies, and it will allow us to prepare students for careers in biotechnology in a practical, cutting-edge setting,” said Dr. Leamer. “It also creates an environment in which Delaware Valley College faculty can partner with Hepatitis B Foundation researchers on basic research projects.”

The Hepatitis B Foundation currently resides on the Delaware Valley College campus. With the creation of the center, the Foundation will move into the renovated building, which in turn will open additional space on campus for DelVal’s expanding agricultural biotechnology program, including animal care, teaching labs, faculty offices and instructional space.

“This is a truly rewarding moment for both organizations,” said, Dr. Leamer. “Doylestown will become the nexus for biotechnology research. This collaboration will provide small companies with the resources they need develop their success and be competitive in the marketplace. Partnering with the Hepatitis B Foundation creates many opportunities for both the Foundation and Delaware Valley College.”

Major support for the development of this biotechnology center comes from a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In 2001, then Gov. Mark Schweiker awarded $7,900,000 to the Foundation and the College, which was subsequently approved by Gov. Ed Rendell. The new facility is the result of that award.

The Hepatitis B Foundation, with its academic partners, has attracted numerous biotech companies to the area. Its work has spun off several small biotech firms, including the highly publicized Nucleonics Inc., Synergy Pharma (now publically traded as Callisto), Oragen and most recently, Immunotope. Several of their discoveries are now being tested for benefit in clinical trials, an important milestone of success. More than 50 people are currently employed at the DelVal site, working on biotech issues with the foundation and its academic partners.

While the original project called for new construction on 10 acres of DelVal’s campus, purchasing the warehouse space creates new business development without impacting the college’s green space. An existing under used building will be renovated and open space will remain untouched.
“It is particularly satisfying that all of this can be accomplished by an adaptive re-use, by renovating an existing building and maximizing its use,” said Sen. Joe Conti.

“We have enthusiastically supported the center and once again applaud your decision to purchase underused space in Doylestown for use by the College and Foundation. An important aspect of this is the preservation of open space on campus,” said Commissioner Chairman Charles H. Martin.
The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of SE PA have also played an important role in guiding the programs.

The Hepatitis B Foundation is the only national nonprofit organization solely dedicated to the global problem of hepatitis B.

Delaware Valley College is a comprehensive four-year institution of higher learning with more than 1,500 men and women enrolled full-time in more than 35 academic programs, ranging from agricultural, biological and physical sciences, to business administration, computer information systems and secondary education. In addition, nearly 500 students are enrolled on a part-time basis in DelVal's Evening College, Weekend College, and DelVal’s Graduate Programs, working to advance their careers.

For more information about the new biotechnology center, contact Dr. Tim Block at 215-489-4949.