(left to right)
Joe Heppert, University of Kansas
Kevin Sweeney, Polsinelli Shughart (Co-Sponsor, Chair and Host)

Stephen Higgs, Kansas State University
(Co-Sponsor)
Robert Casillas, MRIGlobal

John Norton, Henry W. Bloch School of Management, UMKC

John Garretson, Shook Hardy & Bacon

Jeff Boily, Center for Animal Health Innovation

Peter Dorhout, Kansas State University
(Co-Sponsor)

Dan Getman, Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute

Patrick Wooley, Polsinelli Shughart, Co-Sponsor and Host)

Jeff Reene, University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City Cancer Center

Not Pictured: Henry Randall, Saint Luke's Hospital

More Best Than Worst of Times for Area Biotech Sector

In the 12 years of Ingram’s Industry Outlook assembly series, Polsinelli Shughart’s Kevin Sweeney did something that no previous chair had thought to do: begin his presentation with a recitation from Charles Dickens.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” said Sweeney, who proceeded to read the rest of the entirely apt opening paragraph of The Tale of Two Cities. This excerpt summarized Sweeney’s feelings on the state of the biotech industry in this region.

Positive signs are many: MOSIRA, a major income-tax based financing tool on the Missouri side, a record level of federal grants for area institutions, a loosening of venture capital, Kansas State’s new facility in Olathe, Kansas University’s state-of-the-art clinical facility in Mission, an angel tax credit bill recently introduced in Missouri’s legislature, helpful new federal legislation, progress with NBAF and National Cancer Institute designation for the KU Cancer Center, the list goes on.

“Those are all good things,” said Sweeney. He then proceeded to cite challenges: the worst economic downturn in memory, the risk of losing companies to either coast, difficulties negotiating the state line, and the political consequences pursuant to that division.

Sweeney invited his colleagues to sort out the best from the worst and point the way to the future while so doing. Joining him at Polsinelli Shughart’s offices overlooking the Country Club Plaza were a dozen high-level stakeholders from the area’s most prominent biotech institutions, including representatives from Kansas State University, which co-sponsored the assembly.