Hormel Institute Expansion by Austin Daily Herald

THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2016

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD – HORMEL INSTITUTE EXPANSION

Accelerating cancer research East expansion — 20 additional labs

Only a few short years ago, The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota celebrated a major expansion. In 2008 the cancer research center, that is part of UMN, tripled in size, tripled the number of cancer research sections, doubled the number of faculty and staff jobs and virtually transformed with state of the art cancer research labs and core facilities. The advances and achievements in cancer research of The Hormel Institute resulted in transformational support from The Hormel Foundation, collaborators, donors and the community. Now — only eight years later — The Hormel Institute is already celebrating another milestone - the achievement of a $40 million expansion. The Hormel Institute is doubling in size and for the first time in its 74-year history, through a major investment made by the State of Minnesota. The 2012 bonding bill provided half the funds — $13.5 million — for the East Expansion that was matched by The Hormel Foundation. The Hormel Foundation gifted another $9.5 million for technology and the hiring of world class faculty. “The expansion of The Hormel Institute will provide new jobs, grow important partnerships around the world, accelerate answers to cancer and keep Minnesota globally competitive through strengthening the industry of medical research,” said Gary J. Ray, Chair of The Hormel Foundation. “This is a win for the entire State of Minnesota and for every person who cares about cancer research.” Governor Mark Dayton rolled out the 2012 bonding bill and invited The Hormel Institute’s executive director Dr. Zigang Dong to attend the media conference. Dayton proclaimed The Hormel Institute expansion as “one of the best investments the State of Minnesota can make.” “ I want to congratulate The Hormel Institute on the 2016 expansion — we are very proud of the work that is done in Austin,” said Dayton. “The State of Minnesota supported the expansion because of the new jobs it creates and the cutting edge cancer research that benefits the people of our state and around the world.” State Sen. Dan Sparks and State Re. Jeanne Poppe wrote the bill strongly supported statewide including by then Senate majority leader State Senator Dave Senjem. The bonding funds were requested by Austin Port Authority. “We remain highly appreciative for the vital, bipartisan support from the state of Minnesota and for the state to partner with us for the first

Harlan Johnsrud donated his drone photography talents to capture overhead construction views of The Hormel Institute’s expansion. His work will be featured throughout the Grand Opening ceremony and summer open houses to show the building growth and construction progress. Picture courtesy of Harlan L. Johnsrud.

Former Institute (2008 expansion) •79,000 square feet

2016 East Expansion (20 labs)

•63,000 square feet •$13.5 million state bonding •$13.5 million The Hormel Foundation

2016 West Expansion (Live Learning Center) •10,000 square feet

time on a building project for The Hormel Institute,” said Jerry McCarthy, Board Chair of Austin Port Authority. “The Port Authority is proud to have played an important role in making this project happen.” Locally the expansion makes an important economic impact as well. “The investment in growing The Hormel Institute is one that is good socially and economically,” said John Garry, president of the Development Corporation of Austin. “ This is a great investment because the expansion will accelerate cancer research discoveries, create new jobs and provide expanding global leadership in the important industry of bioscience.”

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD – HORMEL INSTITUTE EXPANSION

Continues on Page 4 THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2016

City officials and representatives from The Hormel Institute and The Hormel Foundation worked vigorously on the expansion bonding effort are highly grateful for the leadership of Austin legislators Sen. Dan Sparks and Rep. Jeanne Poppe as well as that from Rep. Richard Murray of Albert Lea, Senate Majority Leader David Senjem of Rochester and Sen. Carla Nelson of Rochester, among others. This effort included local leaders testifying in 2012 with Rep. Poppe on the bonding request before a House jobs committee. “We are extremely thankful to the State of Minnesota and to The Hormel Foundation for providing the all important match to make this expansion possible,” said Dong. “We appreciate our hard working local legislators, Austin Port Authority and those who led the efforts of the expansion.”

West expansion — Live Learning Center

The faculty and staff at The Hormel Institute will grow to about 250 faculty and staff over the next few years. The seminar room that once loomed large in 2008 soon became inadequate. In 2015, The Hormel Foundation agreed to support an addition to the expansion called the Live Learning Center. This global communications center includes a 250-seat auditorium and multi-purpose room that will be used for seminars, cancer conferences, corporate meetings and more. “This is a place where scientists will come together globally — to share knowledge and further research and discoveries,” said Gail Dennison, Director of Development and Public Relations for The Hormel Institute. “We are very thankful to The Hormel Foundation for supporting the project and the generous donors who made this important communications center a part of the expansion.”

THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2016

Dean Hogstad of Nietz Electric works on floor lighting in the Live Learning Center at The Hormel Institute. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com The $4.5 million Live Learning Center was funded through $1.5 million gifts made by The Hormel Foundation and University of Minnesota and another $1.66 million raised from the community. Donations came from individuals, businesses and organizations and exceeded the $1.5 million “Coming Together for the Cure” campaign goal by $155,053. “We are so very thankful to our generous community and the people who are on the front lines supporting and furthering cancer research,” said Dr. Zigang Dong. “The Live Learning Center is a beautiful and inspirational new part of The Hormel Institute. It provides the necessary space and improved technology so we can help accelerate answers to cancer.”

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD – HORMEL INSTITUTE EXPANSION

THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2016

Expansion adds new cryo-electron microscope Institute will be one of few cancer centers in world to apply T cutting edge technology to develop anticancer drugs

THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2016

he Hormel Institute continues to add state-of-the-art technology to its ICRT “International Center of Research Technology.” The new east addition will now be home to the world’s most cutting edge microscope technology used in research today. This technology is the most powerful and flexible high-resolu-

tion electron microscope available in the world and captures two dimensional (2D) and 3D images using cryo-electron microscopy (EM). As part of the recent building expansion, a specialized laboratory was designed to accommodate the new Titan Krios G2 microscope developed in the Netherlands and purchased from FEI (North America NanoPort, Hillsboro, Oregon).

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD – HORMEL INSTITUTE EXPANSION

The Hormel Institute hired a new section leader who is an expert in using this technology, referred to as cryo-EM. Dr. Anna Sundborger will lead a research team utilizing the new technology. Dr. Sundborger, originally from Sweden, was with the National Institutes of Health in Washington D.C. before moving to Austin, Minnesota and joining The Hormel Institute. Dr. Sundborger’s laboratory, CryoEM and Molecular Cell Biology, continues to further The Hormel Institute’s use of technology to accelerate cancer research. “Cryo-EM allows us to visualize the organization of molecules that control critical cellular functions,” Dr. Sundborger said. “It provides us with a better understanding of the cellular events that lead to diseases, like cancer. Even more importantly, it provides us with the information we need to design drugs to act in preventing and treating disease.” Cryo-EM is a method used for imaging frozen-hydrated samples at cryogenic temperatures – temperatures below -238°F. Freezing the samples eliminates the need

for dyes or fixatives, which enables scientists to study tiny cellular structures and protein complexes at molecular resolution. The field of structural biology is entering into a new era mainly due to the technical advances in cryo-EM and The Hormel Institute will gain worldwide recognition with the arrival and utilization of this technology. The new cryo-EM laboratory at The Hormel Institute is state-of-the-art and has already generated much interest in the scientific community. The large microscope has been installed over the past month in the new laboratory designed to host the new technology. Because the microscope is unbelievably sensitive, the laboratory is equipped with cement basing and thick walls to eliminate vibrations, air, and sound waves that can disrupt the imaging. Shipped in huge insulated wooden crates, the microscope continues to be assembled and will be ready for use by August. The Hormel Foundation supported the acquisition of the microscope to further the cancer research of The Hormel Institute.

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD – HORMEL INSTITUTE EXPANSION

PICTURED ABOVE: Dr. Anna Sundborger, leader of the new Cyro-EM and Molecular Cell Biology lab, at The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota. PICTURED ON LEFT PAGE: Time-progression photos of the installation of the Titan Krios G2 microscope.

THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2016

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD – HORMEL INSTITUTE EXPANSION

Moving cancer research to the next stage of clinical trials The Institute adds translational research doctor/patient rooms The Hormel Institute will continue to take its groundbreaking cancer research to the next level. The 2014-16 expansion provides space for the first time in The Hormel Institute’s 74-year history to conduct first stage clinical trials under its own management and are planned to begin over the next 1-2 years. Two patient rooms were designed and constructed as part of the east building expansion of the Institute. The doctor/patient suite of rooms will allow The Hormel Institute to move from basic research into the next phase — translational cancer research. “The ability for our scientists to conduct our own first stage clinical trials directly from The Hormel Institute will further research and accelerate discoveries,” Dr. Zigang Dong, The Hormel Institute executive director said. “This is the start of a new era of the Institute’s research capabilities.” Translational research applies findings from basic science to enhance human health and well-being. As the name suggests, it aims to “translate” findings of basic research into medial practice and meaningful health outcomes. This space will allow The Institute to expand beyond basic research and onsite patient trials will facilitate faster access to data in their quest to prevent, detect, and treat cancer. The Hormel Institute works closely with cancer centers, hospitals, and clinics around the world to move its basic research findings into clinical trials. Mayo Clinic, Masonic Cancer Center, MD Anderson, University of Arizona, and many others have played a key role in furthering the Institute’s findings into clinical trials. Now, some of the first stage trials can be completed

Dr. Zigang Dong, executive director of The Hormel Institute, stands in one of the newly completely labs, part of the newest round of expansions. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

“The ability for our scientists to conduct our own first stage clinical trials directly from The Hormel Institute will further research and accelerate discoveries. This is the start of a new era of the Institute’s research capabilities.” — Dr. Zigang Dong, The Hormel Institute executive director right at The Institute in Austin, Minnesota. Future patients visiting The Hormel Institute will enter through the east side doors

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD – HORMEL INSTITUTE EXPANSION

into a waiting room and reception area. Just beyond the waiting room is a hallway where the patient rooms are located. Each room is

equipped with a medical examination table, chairs, and desk, as you would expect in a clinical setting.

THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2016

Continued support Hormel Foundation’s faithful support helps lead growth at The Institute

ust one year after The Hormel Foundation formed in 1941, Jay C. Hormel founded The Hormel Institute and gifted it to University of Minnesota. It was the first and remains the main organization to annually benefit from the foundation’s charitable giving. The Hormel Foundation’s growing impact and legacy is reflected in the 74-year growth of The Hormel Institute. From 1942 converting a horse barn into a state of the art research lab, to the 10 labs built on present site in 1960, to a major expansion in 2008 that tripled the size and virtually transformed The Hormel Institute, The Hormel Foundation’s support of progress has remained faithful. It is a major feat that within just eight years, The Hormel Foundation is supporting another major expansion — doubling the size of The Hormel Institute. “The generous support The Hormel Institute receives from The Hormel Foundation is extraordinary not just in our state or country, but in the world,” said Dr. Zigang Dong, executive director who has been at

the helm of the institute during this time of rapid development. “The best way we can say ‘thank you’ for our beautiful research facilities, generous support and cutting edge technology is to make as much progress in cancer research as possible. And that is what our hard working faculty is doing, in an effort to help people.” During Dong’s leadership, The Hormel Institute has tripled the number of cancer research sections, bringing new scientists from around the world to Austin to join an already stellar group of research professors. The Hormel Foundation provides support annually to The Hormel Institute, ensuring that 100 percent of all research donations are for the mission — groundbreaking cancer research. “World-renowned cancer research is being done at The Hormel Institute, and the 2014-16 expansion and its Live Learning Center will significantly enhance their global presence and influence even more,” said Foundation Chairman Gary J. Ray.

Live Learning Center Conference is Sept. 21-24 The Live Learning Center will feature innovative, global-communications technology in a 250-seat lecture hall with an adjacent hall for various uses, including scientific poster sessions during international cancer conferences. Two conferences will be hosted in the Live Learning Center this year. The conferences include the seventh China-U.S. Forum on Frontiers of Cancer Research and the fourth Hormel Institute International Cancer Research Conference that will take place June 1 to 3, coinciding with the Grand Opening of the 2016 expansion. Other meetings and conferences are scheduled including the 12th International Skin Carcinogenesis Conference scheduled for Sept. 21-24. Each conference includes 100-200 cancer researchers coming to Austin from around the world.

THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2016

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD – HORMEL INSTITUTE EXPANSION

THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2016

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD – HORMEL INSTITUTE EXPANSION