Mayo Clinic, U. Minnesota Medical Genomics Project Delayed By Legislative Stalemate - AP

NEW YORK, August 16 (GenomeWeb News) - A partnership between the Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota to help the state become a leader in medical genomics and biotechnology, first announced in April 2003, is in limbo because the Minnesota state legislature failed to vote on funding for the proposal before adjourning in May, the Associated Press reported today.

The collaboration included three new floors of lab space at Mayo's StabileBuilding in Rochester, Minn., which is on hold because of the funding stalemate, the report stated. The Mayo Clinic has earmarked $11 million toward the project, but the state failed to approve its $20 million contribution before adjourning.

The proponents of the project will have to wait until the 2005 session of the Minnesota legislature to pursue the funding further, the report stated. Meanwhile, construction on the lab space has been delayed.