Birmingham lands groundbreaking $43.6M bio-tech grant
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A Birmingham private-public partnership has been awarded $43.6 million in direct funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration to advance the state’s biotechnology ecosystem.
Called the Birmingham Biotechnology Hub Grant, the partnership funds Southern Research and University of Alabama at Birmingham to create artificial intelligence drug discovery platforms, while the Alabama Community College Systems, Lawson State Community College, and The PROPEL Center provide advanced biotechnology training and workforce development.
How the Birmingham Bio-Tech grant works
According to a news release, the Birmingham Bio Innovation Corporation will coordinate Birmingham Biotechnology Hub efforts that seek to leverage artificial intelligence to shorten the drug development pipeline and deliver affordable drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics to treat a global patient population and increase the efficacy of biotechnological products.
Here is how the grant is divided up between the partners:
- Almost $20 million of the grant will fund Southern Research’s Catalyst program, launched in October 2024 with support from the State of Alabama and City of Birmingham
- UAB Center for Innovation Platforms and Therapeutics Acceleration will receive $10 million to develop advanced AI and biological platforms that speed up drug discovery
- Lawson State Community College Biotech Early Career Workforce Development Program was awarded $7.26 million, and The PROPEL Center— a technology and innovation hub that supports HBCUs — has been awarded $5 million to support its Biotech Advanced Upskilling Project
“We have a great opportunity — with this grant and support from other public and private partners — to train Alabamians in the biotech jobs of the future, advance technology and make life-changing and life-saving discoveries. The work of the Birmingham Biotechnology Hub promises to benefit our local and state economies while improving health across Alabama and far beyond.”
Sanjay Singh, Interim Regional Innovation Officer, Birmingham Bio Innovation Corporation
Birmingham is one of six hubs nationwide
Birmingham was one of six designated Tech Hubs nationwide selected to receive a total of $210 million in implementation grants, ranging between approximately $22 million and $48 million.
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