Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick announced a 95 million dollar grant for life sciences at the flagship Amherst campus Thursday. The money is part of a ten year, $1 billion dollar fund created in 2008 to invest in the state’s public and private life sciences sectors, such as medical device research. The grant will be used to help complete a new $157 million laboratory at UMass. Patrick says this type of academic investment will help improve the regional economy.
“It’s a winning strategy to invest in education, in innovation, and in infrastructure, and the life sciences has been a critical component of that strategy, and UMass Amherst is ready.”
Officials also announced a $5.5 million dollar grant for a life sciences research partnership between Umass and Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. Patrick says he will continue to work with the state legislature to reach a funding level for the UMass system that would freeze student tuition and fees next year. Patrick and the House have each laid out budgets that would allow UMass to keep student costs level. But late last month, the senate passed a budget that funded the University and other state schools at a lower level. The house and senate are now working towards a budget compromise for the fiscal year that begins July 1st.