The HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology will soon have a presence in Dothan with its new HudsonAlpha Wiregrass institute.
HudsonAlpha signed a memorandum of understanding with the city of Dothan to pursue a public-private partnership. The institute will focus on the specific areas of education, agricultural research and economic development.
The institute will collaborate with Dothan leadership along with the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama to work toward enhancing STEM education and creating economic growth and jobs, according to HudsonAlpha President Neil Lamb.
The new Wiregrass institute will focus on three main areas. The first is genomics education in Wiregrass schools and among general public, including educator professional learning experiences, student trips, summer programs, workforce certifications and internships in ag-tech. Town halls, seminars and science nights will introduce genomic concepts and technologies to Wiregrass communities.
The second encompasses applying the power of genomics to improve plants used for food, feed, fuel and fiber. Naturally occurring DNA changes produce plants with higher yields, increased resistance to pests and disease, and the ability to grow under different environmental conditions like temperature or rainfall levels. HudsonAlpha will focus on applying genomics research to Alabama peanuts and collaborate with local farmers, high school agriculture programs, Auburn University and the Wiregrass Research Extension Center to create a new variety of drought and disease-resistant peanut.
The final area is the recruitment of agriculture-tech startup companies, and the creation of an ecosystem for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
HudsonAlpha Wiregrass is planning to begin its work in the area on Oct. 1 with the city of Dothan planning to create an innovation center in downtown Dothan to house the institute.
HudsonAlpha as a whole, headquartered in Huntsville, has a four-fold mission of conducting genomics-based research to improve human health and well-being; implementing genomic medicine, sparking entrepreneurship and economic development and providing educational outreach to nurture the next generation of biotech researchers and entrepreneurs, as well as to create a biotech-literate public.
Since 2006, HudsonAlpha has generated a $3.2 billion in economic impact for the state of Alabama, created 2,300 jobs and recruited more than 45 biotech companies to its campus in Huntsville.
