MetroAtlantais building its reputation as a bioscience center with the recent partnership announcement ofEmory Universityand Children's Healthcare ofAtlanta, two Metro Atlanta Chamber board members, opening a$90 millionpediatric research facility.

"Atlantahas a thriving bioscience community,and this pediatric research facility will lead to continued medical advances that will benefit patients not just inGeorgia, but throughout the world," saidSam A. Williams, president of MAC. "Metro Atlanta's strength in bioscience comes from a strong pool of talent to universities and clinical research to entrepreneurship, which forms an ideal environment for the growth of the bioscience industry."

In addition to a number of pediatric focus areas, the new 200,000-square-foot building on theEmorycampus will include research in adult cancer, immunology and drug discovery.

Being centrally located in the heart ofGeorgia's Innovation Crescent will be a huge asset to the many companies who are working in this field of research.

The Innovation Crescent is both a geographic area and a coalition of more than a dozen counties and entities focused on life sciences and economic development in the state ofGeorgia.

"The longstanding partnership betweenEmory Universityand Children's Healthcare ofAtlantacombines the considerable strengths of two top-tierGeorgiainstitutions," saysJames Wagner, President ofEmory University. "We expect our new Health Sciences Research Building, with its focus on pediatrics, will help boostEmoryand Children's Healthcare ofAtlantainto the leading ranks of pediatric research programs, all for the benefit of children's health inGeorgiaand throughout the world."

"We are excited for the chance to further develop a robust pediatric research program," saidDonna Hyland, President and CEO, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. "Atlantais blessed with many fine institutions – likeEmory– who believe in collaboration—and we will continue to grow because it's the collaboration among our clinical and academic professionals that will determine how much we are able to provide forGeorgia's children now and in the future."

Atlantais known for its universities and talent pool. Leading pediatric clinicians and researchers from across the country will be drawn toAtlantaby the strength of this collaborative pediatric research center, making the facility the destination of choice for cutting-edge and compassionate pediatric care.

"As development of the Emory-Children's Pediatric Research Center accelerates, we continue to recruit eminent new faculty and their research teams for 14 focus areas," saidS. Wright Caughman, MD,EmoryExecutive Vice President for Health Affairs and CEO of the Woodruff Health Sciences Center. "I am confident that our partnership will result in increased funding for pediatric research inGeorgiaand significant advances both near-term and far into the future."