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When Rev. Edward F. Sorin founded the University of Notre Dame, he provided timeless words of guidance that continue to shape the institution 167 years later. Sorin’s statement that Notre Dame “will be one of the most powerful means for doing good in this country” is a guidepost for university leaders as they intensify the school’s efforts in the life sciences—efforts that will ultimately fulfill Notre Dame’s mission by using the study of science to improve the lives of human beings.

“Basic human health is part of the Catholic tradition,” says Gregory Crawford, dean of Notre Dame’s College of Science. “We do a lot of science for humanity and science for society. If you look at the various aspects of what we do, we’re really trying to better the lives of people. That’s the bottom line.”

The university has increased its research efforts in the last decade, with external funding doubling since 2000, now standing at $83 million annually. The dramatic surge in research activities, including life sciences research, created a glaring need for physical space where scientists could translate their discoveries into viable commercial opportunities. Innovation Park at Notre Dame, a research park the university began building in the fall of 2008, will provide that critical space.

“The mission of Innovation Park can be expressed in three simple words: connect, collaborate and commercialize,” says Innovation Park President David Brenner. “We want to connect the university’s intellectual assets with market expertise from the private sector, as well as provide access to early stage capital.”

The park’s first facility, a three-story, 54,000-square-foot building adjacent to campus, will be completed in the fall of 2009. Brenner expects about one-third of it to be used for life sciences research and businesses. The building’s entire third floor will house “wet labs,” which are typically used for life sciences research.

As new ideas move into commercialization at Innovation Park, university leaders envision start-up business “graduating” to Ignition Park, which will be the second portion of Indiana’s first two-site State-Certified Technology Park when it’s complete. Ignition Park will be located in South Bend’s historic Studebaker Corridor, which was once a hotbed for the automotive industry. The decaying buildings currently at the site will be cleared by the end 2010 with construction following.

“Research doesn’t just end with publication in a journal, it can go on and improve the lives of others,” says Crawford. “Innovation Park will create more translational value for basic research. We also believe the park will be a great economic stimulus for Northern Indiana.”

In addition to Innovation Park, several projects within the College of Science are creating momentum for life sciences research at the university. One of the most unique programs is the Center for Rare and Neglected Diseases. Crawford says the recent hire of center director Kasturi Haldar has created newfound focus and energy for the project.

“The center looks at diseases not many people in the world are researching,” says Crawford.

Currently, the center’s primary focus is researching Niemann-Pick Disease Type C (NP-C), a genetic, cholesterol storage disorder that primarily strikes children, causing death before or during adolescence. Crawford says NP-C has special meaning for the Notre Dame “family;” well known and beloved Notre Dame football coach Ara Parseghian’s three youngest grandchildren died while battling the rare disorder.

Fueled by new funding, the university’s Center for Global Health and Infectious Disease is also ramping up research, primarily focused on malaria.

“We have great strength at the university in global health and infectious disease,” says Crawford. “It’s a very large group that’s largely in the Department of Biological Sciences, but there are connections and collaborations throughout other colleges on campus, like engineering.”

Modern computing power is also bringing new growth and increasing capabilities at the university’s Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Biocomplexity.

“At the Center of Biocomplexity, they’re able to tackle very difficult problems related to the biosciences and medicine that you couldn’t tackle in the past,” says Crawford. “Rather than doing a huge number of experiments, computer power allows us to set up models that are predictive, and then we can try to validate those predictions.”

As momentum continues to build in the university’s life sciences research and Innovation Park becomes home to future discoveries that could benefit the human race, university leaders believe Notre Dame will continue the legacy of its founder who envisioned a school with “powerful means for doing good.”