Hamm Diabetes Center, the Dean A. McGee Eye Institute and spinoff biotech companies and accelerators like Accele Biopharma and others. At OMRF, some collaboration even happens with the Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences. “Most scientists … are quite pragmatic people,” said Dr. Stephen Prescott, OMRF’s president. “They want to discover something or unwind secrets. The main thing that drives them is opportunity. Are you offering the opportunity for them to do what they want to do?” Another factor is the community itself.
Prescott notes that people find day-to-day living much easier than in other cities, where everything is a hassle – grocery shopping, picking up dry cleaning, commuting, etc. In other cities, “everything takes forever. You have to plan ahead,” Prescott said. “Living in Oklahoma City, it’s like you hit the easy button for everything.” The low cost of living is also a draw. “Our scientists can have a much nicer lifestyle here than they could in Palo Alto or New York City or Boston,” Prescott said. “Life is so much more affordable here.”
Left: Dr. Stephen Prescott Top: HSC Night SeedSower Middle: Stanton L. Young Walk Photos provided by OMRF and OUHSC
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BIO Edition 2015 i&E
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