North Carolina Research Campus

David H. Murdock Core Laboratory on the North Carolina Research Campus

The North Carolina Research Campus is a center for biotechnological, agricultural, food science, and nutritional research. It was initially founded by David H. Murdock, former CEO of Dole Foods. It is built upon the former site of the Cannon Textile Mill in Kannapolis, North Carolina, United States.

About

The North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC) is located north of Charlotte in the former textile mill town of Kannapolis, North Carolina. Scientists and university administrators from several North Carolina universities (see below) moved into two newly-constructed, jointly operated NCRC buildings in October 2008. Major research themes for most NCRC faculty center on the study of plant-based foods and how compounds produced in plants can protect against disease and support human health.

The campus represents a major effort by the state of North Carolina to revitalize the region following the decline of the textile industry. The campus is supported mainly through annual funding from the state of North Carolina, federal research grants to university researchers located on the campus, and investment of real estate by businessman David H. Murdock, former owner of the Cannon textile mill that previously occupied the site.

Universities

• UNC Chapel Hill: Using advanced genomic and metabolomic biotechnology, the UNC Nutrition Research Institute (NRI) investigates the role of diet and activity in normal brain development, cancer prevention, and the prevention and treatment of obesity.

• North Carolina State University: N.C. State's Plants for Human Health Institute (PHHI) is one component of an integrated effort across the North Carolina Research Campus to utilize emerging technologies for plant improvement and human health benefits. Staffed by the N.C. State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the role of the Institute is to develop a new generation of fruits and vegetables with superior nutritional and horticultural characteristics. Researchers will use the most advanced scientific tools to provide new insights into cellular processes, then translate these breakthroughs through genomics and plant breeding into plants with desired traits. N.C. MarketReady, the N.C. Cooperative Extension outreach of PHHI, works closely with the Institute's researchers. N.C. MarketReady builds partnerships and educational resources to help North Carolina agriculture be more profitable.

• UNC Charlotte: UNC Charlotte Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics operates the Bioinformatics Research Center, a Bioinformatics Services group located in the David H. Murdock Core Lab Building. BRC scientists provide data analysis, management, and study planning services for scientists based at the Research Campus and beyond. The NCRC is also home base for UNC Charlotte research and teaching faculty, who teach on the UNCC main campus and do research at the NCRC.

• North Carolina Central University: North Carolina Central University’s Nutrition Research Program will perform groundbreaking work on zebrafish and rodent cancer models to advance knowledge of human nutrition at the cellular and genetic level. This program will seek to complement and strengthen the metabolomics and genomics focus of the other UNC partners conducting research in the UNC Center for Nutrition Building.

• NC A&T State University: NC A&T State University’s Center of Excellence for Post Harvest Technologies (CEOPHT) will conduct cutting edge research in post harvest technologies and food science. Post harvest technologies focus on improving the quality and safety of food after it has left the farm. CEOPHT’s goal will be the development of multidisciplinary programs focused on post harvest technologies including research pertaining to processing, preservation, consumer research, recovery of health promoting food components, food safety issues, storage stability and quality, and value-added product development for food and non-food uses. The program will create new jobs and enhance economic opportunities for the agricultural sector of the State of North Carolina along all components of the supply line, from producers to consumers.

• UNC Greensboro: The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) Center for Research Excellence in Bioactive Food Components at NCRC is a satellite to the UNCG Department of Nutrition, School of Human Environmental Sciences on the UNCG main campus. The focus of the Center’s research will be to understand cellular and molecular mechanisms of action in bioactive food components and the molecular targets for these dietary components. The Center will also focus on expanding the fundamental understanding of these components and their benefits to human health and wellness, healthy aging, and prevention of diseases such as cancer.

• Duke University: Researchers from Duke University are leading the MURDOCK Study, funded by a $25 million grant from David H. Murdock to Duke University. The study aims to collect samples and medical histories from thousands of local residents and then build a database that medical and public health researchers can use to uncover the genetic and environmental basis for diseases.

• Rowan–Cabarrus Community College: RCCC will be instrumental in providing a workforce for the NCRC community. RCCC will have its own location at the NCRC and will offer several new degree programs in biotechnology and agricultural biotechnology.

Companies

Some of the companies currently doing business at the NCRC or in surrounding areas include:

• Castle & Cooke: Castle & Cooke is the commercial real estate company owned by David Murdock which develops the North Carolina Research Campus. Their offices on the campus are located in the Plants for Human Health Institute Building operated by NC State. Castle & Cooke developed the two public university buildings on the campus, which the UNC system and individual universities will ultimately own per a 30-year lease-to-own agreement with the company.

• Dole Foods: Dole Foods Research and Development group rent space in the Plants for Human Health Institute Building operated by NC State. David Murdock, NCRC developer, is a majority shareholder of Dole Foods.

• LabCorp: Headquartered in Burlington, North Carolina, LabCorp is a clinical services company involved in genomic testing and the commercialization of new diagnostic technologies. LabCorp operates a facility located near South First and Cannon Blvd. about one mile east the NCRC.

David H. Murdock Research Institute

The David H. Murdock Research Institute (DHMRI), a nonprofit organization, is located at the center of the North Carolina Research Campus. DHMRI examines issues concerning human health, nutrition and agriculture in laboratories including genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, light microscopy, and NMR. The Institute was co-founded by David Murdock in an effort to build interest in the Campus among potential tenants; its aim is to offer high end scientific services for university researchers, government agencies, and small and large industry partners.

External links

• NCRC Official Website
• DHMRI Official Website
• MURDOCK Study
• Plants for Human Health Institute
• North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, NC
• City of Kannapolis, NC
• Officials break ground on new RCCC building - Channel 14 News 5/30/2009
• Kannapolis Newcomers List Annotated Map