Dean appointed to state's Life Sciences Advisory Board

The dean of the College of Chemical and Life Sciences was appointed Sept. 14 by Gov. Martin O'Malley to the Maryland Life Sciences Advisory Board, created to help promote the industry in the state.

Norma Allewell, who has been dean of the college since 2000, will help develop a strategy to coordinate resources that will attract investment and jobs. The board will also promote collaboration between life science research institutions and organizations, according to the state law that created the advisory board.

Allewell, who was nominated by the university, is most interested in bridging the gaps between universities, the private sector and government to advance the life sciences, she said.

"We need to work to make the whole greater than the sum of its parts," she said.

While the advisory board will not help the university specifically, the board is charged with developing a "state strategic plan" to promote the life sciences statewide, which may boost the university's many life science researcher initiatives, Allewell said.

"The university is a major player in the life sciences," said Sen. Jim Rosapepe (D-Prince George's and Anne Arundel), who co-sponsored the bill creating the board. Allewell's appointment "is good for the board and good for the university," he said.

The life sciences, which include biotechnology, pharmacy, food science and environmental science, have long been promoted in Maryland, home to the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration. More than 370 bioscience companies are located in the state, according to the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. The state is now trying to attract more.

"Growing Maryland's life sciences industry is a critical step toward a brighter future for all citizens," said O'Malley in a statement. "We are fortunate to have brought together some of the greatest scientists, educators and business professionals to help us in the important task of developing a roadmap to move this industry forward."

Most of the advisory board's work will be done through subcommittees, which have not yet been formed, said Allewell.

"There has been desire from people in the state to make a more integrated plan to improve our ranking [over other states]," said Allewell, who will serve on the 15-member board for two years, after which she will continue to serve the unpaid term until a successor is appointed.

"I am very excited and pleased to be able to participate in what I feel is a very important thing for the state," she said. "I am happy that the university thought that I would be a good representative."

newsdesk@dbk.umd.edu.