Bio in Ohio

Ohio offers a unique combination of assets, advantages and opportunities for companies, entrepreneurs, researchers, and students to pursue their goals.

Dynamic, Robust Corporate Community

With a broad and deep industry base, Ohio is home to more than 800 bioscience-related organizations focused on fields such as:

• Pharmaceuticals
• Medical devices
• Diagnostics
• Imaging
• Contract research
• Agbio

From the innovative start-ups—supported by biotech incubators TechColumbus, BIOSTART, BioEnterprise, and The Innovation Center—to emerging stars—like Meridian Bioscience, AtriCure, Diagnostic Hybrids, and Athersys – to some of the largest corporations in the world – like Cardinal Health, P&G, Boehringer-Ingelheim, and Abbott.

Overall, more than $1.3 billion were invested across Ohio to accelerate Ohio’s bioscience growth in 2006, a jump of more than $300 million since 2004. The sources of funding include venture capital, angel funds, IPOs, SBIR/STTR, state biomedical R&D grants, and NSF and NIH grants.

Ohio is regularly in the top 3 in Site Selection’s Governor’s Cup, which ranks states in attracting new businesses and expanded facilities.

Ohio is the 7th largest state (11.3 million), and 3 of the top 35 largest U.S. metro areas are in Ohio—Cleveland, Cincinnati-Hamilton, and Columbus. Those three metro areas are listed in the top 30 U.S. Biotech Locations by Business Facilities magazine. Business Facilities also placed Ohio 10th in its 2006 ranking of states showing the greatest overall strength and growth in biotechnology.

Check out Ohio's Assets of Attraction

World-Class Research

Distinguished and diverse, the breadth of Ohio’s bioscience research capabilities matches that of any other region in the world.

Overall in FY2005, Ohio research organizations earned $721 million in NIH funding, an annual increase of 4 percent. Four institutions—Case Western Reserve University, The Ohio State University, University of Cincinnati, and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation—ranked in the top 100 NIH funding recipients. In FY2006, the NSF awarded $9.8 million in biological sciences grants to Ohio institutions.

Innovative collaborations among Ohio’s research institutions include:

• The Genome Research Institute, pairing up the University of Cincinnati, Wright State University, P&G Pharmaceuticals, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Acero, and the Air Force Research Laboratories

• The Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, a consortium of Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), The Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals of Cleveland (UHC), The Ohio State University, and Athersys.

• The Biomedical Structural, Functional and Molecular Imaging Enterprise—Ohio’s first Wright Center of Innovation, led by Ohio State with support from Case Western Reserve University and Philips Medical Systems

SBIR/STTR funding related to bioscience research and product development in Ohio increased 34 percent in 2005, to $28.9 million.

Many nationally-recognized contract research organizations are based in Ohio, such as the Battelle Memorial Institute, the largest in the world. And Cincinnati's Kendle International recently received top ranking in a CenterWatch survey on CRO clinical site relationships.

Our world-class research capabilities are supported by the state’s commitment to commercialization. Ohio’s research institutions have significantly increased their financial and personnel outlays to technology transfer in recent years, streamlining patent and licensing processes and engaging in research with clear commercialization potential.

Clinical Excellence

Ohio possesses an unparalleled network of clinical excellence.

• U.S. News & World Report’s 2006 "America’s Best Hospitals" report ranks The Cleveland Clinic among the top 3 hospitals, and their Heart Center has been ranked first in the nation for 13 straight years. Overall, 10 Ohio hospitals are named in U.S. News & World Report’s "America’s Best Hospitals," ranking among the top 5 states.
• Ohio is home to 3 of the country’s top 12 pediatric hospitals, 3 of the top 25 cancer facilities, 3 of the top 50 heart and heart surgery centers, 6 of the top 50 sites for orthopedics, and 4 of the nation's 40 best endocrinology centers.
  

And Ohio is the ideal bioscience and technology proving ground, ranking among the top 8 states in the total number of clinical trials hosted. Ohio clinics and institutions participate in more than 25% of all U.S. clinical trials.

Government Support

Ohio's elected officials have led a multi-dimensional effort to make bioscience a pillar in Ohio’s economic future.

Launched in 2002, the 10-year, $1.6 billion Third Frontier Project is designed to: build world-class research capacity; support early stage capital formation and the development of new products; finance advanced manufacturing technologies to help existing industries become more productive. Thus far, more than 60% of allotted 3FP funds are accelerating bioscience-related initiatives.

Other Ohio Department of Development initiatives include the Technology Action Fund, the Biomedical Research and Technology Transfer Commission, and the Thomas Edison Program centers like bioscience-focused BioOhio.

Financing and Support Service Infrastructure

Ohio boasts an extensive network of venture and investment firms and professional service providers to support the continued growth of Ohio’s Fortune 500 bioscience companies, emerging firms, and fledgling startups.

• VC firms: like Morgenthaler, Primus Venture Partners, Reservoir Venture Partners, Charter Life Sciences, Blue Chip Venture Company, Ohio Innovation Fund, CID Equity Partners, Triathlon Medical Ventures

• Biotech incubators: like BioEnterprise, BIO/START, the Business Technology Center, and Ohio University’s Innovation Center

• Legal/Intellectual property firms

• Biotech-savvy marketing and communications firms

For more information or if you'd like the Bio in Ohio interactive map CD-ROM mailed to you, call 614.675.3686, or e-mail bioscience@bioohio.com