The University of Central Florida and Florida Hospital, both in Orlando, will submit competing proposals to the Orange County Commission Jan. 23 discussing their proposed plans to takeover the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute at Lake Nona, also in Orlando, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
The La Jolla, Calif.-based Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute sought to build a research facility in Florida after receiving approximately $300 million from the state, the county, Orlando and private sources, according to the report. However, the institute's funds slowly began to dwindle, and officials made the decision roughly two years ago to leave Florida.
Here are six things to know about the proposals.
1. Orange County (Fla.) Mayor Teresa Jacobs requested UCF and Florida Hospital present their proposals to the commission Jan. 23. Negotiations between all parties have reportedly been developing behind closed doors for months, according to the report.
2. Florida Hospital, in partnership with the Tampa, Fla.-based Moffitt Cancer Center, plans to establish five programs at the Sanford Burnham facility, and will invest $100 million during a 10-year period, the report states. The project is expected to create 315 jobs during the 10-year period and will increase the number of research faculty members to 27 within the decade. Officials said they plan to negotiate with current faculty members and hire at least 50 current employees.
3. UCF has partnered with three institutions to revive the Sanford Burnham research facility. The partners are the Nashville, Tenn.-based Sarah Cannon, the cancer institute of HCA Healthcare; Knoxville, Tenn.-based Provision Healthcare; and Skokie, Ill.-based Alter+Care, which develops ambulatory care facilities for hospitals and health systems.
4. UCF's plan involves the creation of 300-plus research positions and will offer current Sanford Burnham researchers the option to apply for a number of those jobs, according to the report.
5. Both plans involve refunding the state the $11 million remaining from the initial $155 million incentive fund the state gave to Sanford Burnham to build the research facility.
6. For either UCF or Florida Hospital to move forward with its plans, the city of Orlando, Orange County, the state and a private development company must all approve their proposals.
To read the full Orlando Sentinel report, click here.