Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis on February 26 called on the University of Southern California to embrace and support community residents as it moves forward with plans to build a biotech research park at its Health Sciences campus, adjacent to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center.
To be successful, USC must design its research park to ensure “people are invited to come down the hill, or across the freeway or even from the other side of town” to work or study at the campus, Supervisor Solis said.
Solis joined University of Southern California President Max Nikias, fellow County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and 250 business and academic leaders for the Los Angeles Biotech Summit, hosted by USC.
While Supervisor Solis emphasized the need for a true community partnership for the research park project, she said she is supportive of the concept and is pleased to be working with USC President C.L. Max Nikias to ensure the research park creates high-quality jobs and educational opportunities for a broad range of residents.
President Nikias has called for an ecosystem in Los Angeles that fosters business, venture capital investment and access to academic medical centers for research and clinical trials. The summit underscores building momentum behind this push in Los Angeles County
(Photo: Ray and Ruth Rios of the Hazard Park Preservation Committee, Supervisor Solis, USC President Max Nikias)