The University of Maryland BioPark was honored as the Outstanding Research Park of the Year at the 2017 Association of University Research Parks (AURP) International Conference in Huntsville, Alabama on October 11, 2017.

The award recognized the BioPark, “has created a robust community of innovation while being an integral participant in the rejuvenation of West Baltimore,” according to an AURP release.

Over its 12 year history the BioPark has generated over $400 million in capital investment; recruited 35 tenants employing 900 people, the majority of whom work for biotech companies; and founded the Southwest Partnership, a community-based not-for-profit corporation committed to economic development in the community surrounding the BioPark.

The BioPark includes six properties, including two laboratory facilities, the Maryland Proton Treatment Center, the Maryland Forensic Medical Center and the newest addition, the BioPark's first adaptive reuse development, the Lion Brothers Building. A new third laboratory facility is under construction at 873 West Baltimore Street. When completed next year, the eight-story, 250,000 square foot facility will house anchor institution Cambridge Innovation Center and many other companies, doubling the number of BioPark employees.

Accepting the award on behalf of the BioPark were James Hughes, MBA, chief enterprise and economic development officer and vice president at University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB); and Jane Shaab, assistant vice president, economic development at UMB. Hughes is president of the UM BioPark and Shaab is executive director.

For more information, go to www.UMBioPark.com

For media inquiries, contact Alex Likowski at alikowski@umaryland.edu