Current Research Facilities
St. Lucie County Research Organizations
Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies
www.tpims.org
Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies (TPIMS) is a 501(c)(3) research center dedicated to conducting basic research to advance the understanding of human disease and the improvement of human health. Scientists at the institute conduct research in fields associated with a wide variety of major medical conditions including multiple sclerosis, cancer, heart disease, Types 1 and 2 diabetes, pain, inflammation, AIDS and other infectious diseases, transplant rejection and rheumatoid arthritis.
In August 2006, San Diego-based TPIMS announced its intention to build it's headquarters in Tradition, assisted by city, county and state incentives. On March 2, 2007, the institute broke ground on its 100,000-square-foot biomedical research center with a cornerstone ceremony. The facility, scheduled to open in 2009, will house $9 million in equipment and is expected to be a significant economic generator with nearly 190 high-value jobs.
Florida Atlantic University Center of Excellence
www.floridabiotech.org
FAU's Center of Excellence in Biomedical and Marine Biotechnology is an academic-industry partnership of ocean engineering, marine biotechnology, functional genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics for the discovery, development, and commercialization of new medicines from Florida's natural marine resources. In addition, Florida Atlantic University was recently classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a "Research University-High Research Activity" institution.
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution
www.hboi.edu
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc. (HBOI) is one of the world's leading not-for-profit oceanographic research organizations dedicated to exploring the earth's oceans, estuaries and coastal regions for the benefit of mankind. HBOI maintains a staff of over 200 employees and is involved in the research and education in the marine sciences, marine biomedical sciences, marine mammal conservation, aquaculture and ocean engineering.
St. Lucie County's Research and Education Park
www.tcerda.org
St. Lucie County's Research and Education Park forms the foundation of the area's plentiful research opportunities. Straddling the Florida Turnpike near I-95, the 1,650-acre park offers facilities that address the demands of today's biomedical, agricultural and ecological researchers and educators. The Research and Education Park also provides incoming organizations with the chance to collaborate with its two largest occupants, the USDA's Horticulture Research Laboratory and the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service
www.ars.usda.gov
With a team of over 100 research scientists and support staff, the Horticulture Research Laboratory is part of the USDA's Agriculture Research Service. Three key units operate at the laboratory: The Horticulture and Breeding Unit focuses on the science of improving citrus cultivation, the Subtropical Insects Research Unit studies strategies for battling horticultural pests, and the Subtropical Plant Pathology Unit develops solutions to fight diseases that kill crops.
Smithsonian Marine Station
www.sms.si.edu
Just a short drive from the Research and Education Park is the Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce. Part of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History, this field station studies the ecological richness of the Indian River Lagoon and Florida's east central coast and draws more than 100 scientists every year from around the globe.
University of Florida - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
www.ifas.ufl.edu
The UF/IFAS Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC) at Fort Pierce conducts research to develop and disseminate new scientific knowledge and technology on commercial citrus, vegetable, ornamental crops, invasive plants, and aquaculture. University of Florida offers undergraduate degree programs in Agribusiness Management and Environment Management and graduate level degrees in Agricultural Education and Communication, Entomology, Environmental Horticulture, and Environmental Science.