The Jackson Laboratory said it will hold a grand opening ceremony on Tuesday for its recently constructed genomic medicine research building, followed by its first scientific symposium on Wednesday.
Construction on the 183,500-square-foot facility began in early 2013. A certificate of occupancy was issued this week, JAX spokeswoman Joyce Peterson said Friday. Researchers are in the process of moving their labs from leased space on the UConn Health campus, she said.
Peterson said the symposium is meant to “bring the scientific world in” to Farmington.
Speakers will include at least three Nobel Prize winners, as well as researchers from Yale, UConn Health, JAX, Harvard Medical School and other institutions.
The event may end up with a fourth Nobel Prize winner. The 2014 prizes will be announced Monday morning, and JAX’s own Charles Lee — who is scheduled to deliver opening remarks Wednesday — is thought by Thomson Reuters to be a favorite.
The state is contributing $291 million in loans and grants to the company’s bioscience efforts in Farmington, and has an agreement to share intellectual property royalties with Connecticut Innovations, which administers the state’s bioscience fund.
JAX’s 20-year capital and research budget is estimated to be $1.1 billion.
