The Observer, February 17, 2006
Volume XXXVIII, Issue 17
Development of West Quad extends research at Case
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As one of the nation's leading research universities, Case is currently working to further develop its prominence in the research world through the establishment of the West Quad campus.
The 14-acre site, which was the former Mt. Sinai Medical Center campus, will feature a community of physicians and scientists focused on various research projects from the basic sciences to clinical research and population medicine.
"The idea is to take advantage of the strengths here in clinical care and biomedical research and to position us for national leadership in inventing a new kind of medical care. There is no place in the country that is better positioned than we are here in Cleveland," Ralph Horwitz, dean of Case's medical school, said.
The West Quad is in University Circle and is bounded by Mt. Sinai Drive, Ansel Road, Silver Park, and E. 105th Street.
Case intends to occupy half the space on the site while the other half will be occupied by medical and life sciences companies, including Cleveland's Department of Public Health.
One of the goals of the West Quad development is to focus on individualized genome medicine, or personalized care that is based upon the individual's genome.
The first new building on the West Quad, the Cleveland Center for Structural Biology (CCSB)/Wright Fuel Cell Group was recently opened and is located at 1819 E. 101 Street.
CCSB is a joint research center for the School of Medicine at Case and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. The center will focus on diseases such as Alzheimer's, cancer, and heart disease.
The Wright Fuel Cell Group is essentially a consortium of various Ohio universities. The group will conduct research on innovation and commercialization for the fuel cell industry.
In addition to the enhancement of research in Cleveland, the West Quad will also impact Cleveland by creating up to 4500 to 6000 jobs at a variety of skill levels.
Upon the completion of the West Quad, students are hopeful that different research opportunities will be more abundant on campus. "The West Quad may hopefully provide research opportunities for Case students. However, I think that it will take some time for the labs to be established and actually become available for students," student Amanda Goiffon said.
The completion date of the West Quad is yet to be determined. The full project will total 1.5 to 2 million gross square feet.
