The Howard Hughes Medical Research Institute (HHMI) at Janelia Farm celebrates it's second anniversary in Ashburn VA this month.
HHMI mission statement:
HHMI's Janelia Farm Research Campus is a world-class biomedical research center where outstanding scientists from diverse disciplines use emerging and innovative technologies to pursue biology's most challenging problems. Our research goals include the identification of general principles guiding how information is processed by neuronal circuits, in addition to the development of new imaging technologies and computational methods for image data analysis.
In October 2006, HHMI held a public open house to celebrate the opening of Loudoun's largest building.
With construction costs exceeding a half billion dollars, the finished building is all but invisible to commuters on Route 7 as it was built underground and into the cliff hillside bluff near the Potomac River. 
The view from Rt. 7 shows the original ranch house surrounded by a field of grass. This field is the roof for HHMI as the complex was designed to reflect Loudoun's agricultural past.
The name Janeila comes from the combination of the ranch owner's daughter's names.
Bio-Tech Research
HHMI is headquartered in a smaller facility in Chevy Chase MD near the National Institutes of Health (NIH) located across the street from the Bethesda Naval Hospital Complex.
HHMI desires not to duplicate NIH efforts but to provide a "safe zone" for scientists buffeted by the short term budgeting environment of government sponsored research.
Investigators
Scientists are granted up to $10 million to establish research projects. This amount includes hiring staff and outfitting lab space.
They are also given a 6-10 year time frame to come up with something. The 10 year deadline determines whether "your idea is really great and works or that your idea really doesn't work--then we'll all know." No harm, no foul.
Only those who would further scientific research, proven by successful projects, will be accepted by the review committee.
Facility
Office/lab layout includes specific space for HHMI researchers, graduate students and lab technicians.
The complex includes long stay apartments for international visiting scientists and ultra high tech medical rooms for patients chosen to participate in disease therapies.
School Talk
There is talk of a Life Sciences Technology High School in the area though no firm plans exist.
Currently, Loudoun Public Schools operates a magnet program in technology at nearby Dominion High School in Sterling. This program continues the NoVa high tech emphasis on computer science and data communications technologies. AOL, Nextel, MCI-Worldcom, UUNet, Network Solutions forming Dulles area history and emphasis.
Fairfax County operates Thomas Jefferson High School in Alexandria VA to which eligible NoVa, including Prince William and Loudoun, students attend.
Taxes
HHMI was granted a property tax exemption which was part of the reason the Loudoun location was selected over competing MD sites in the I-270 Bio-Tech corridor.
This area in Montgomery County MD ranks #1 in the world for bio-tech industry concentration.
The political controversy has died down regarding the "fairness" of the property tax issue.
Collaborative
The interior is designed to "force" the various scientific disciplines to interact which is predicted to add the necessary creativity to come up with workable solutions.
Chemists working with mathematicians. Biologists with mechanical engineers.
Scientists are able to not only have petri dish experiments but are able to test various therapies for fatal diseases and to weld and construct medical devices.
The ultimate scientific workshop.
Interactive Influence
HHMI provides funding at numerous research universities worldwide whose scientists provide additional grist and brainpower for the most complex of problems.
Hyper-Complex mathematical formulas are analyzed using the combined computer processing resources of multiple universities concurrently.
Physical location near the Route 28 corridor which is the major internet backbone of the US east coast thanks to AOL, Nextel and MCI, enables hyper speeds on the information superhighway.
Commercial Anchors
Loudoun County has numerous office and industrial projects zoned and approved for the Route 7 corridor as products are developed for market from the center.
HHMI acts as a research anchor.
George Washington University's branch campus is next door to HHMI and already has developed a reputation in graduate level pharmacology acting as an education anchor.
The Dulles World Trade Center provides another anchor with its mission on the trade of Life Sciences products.
Possibilities range from artificial human skin replacement for burn victims to medical devices.
Proximity to Dulles Airport enables quick transport to participating research institutions and medical facilities worldwide.
The trade center acting as a market anchor. Houston's Texas Medical Center may preview commercial potential.
The Wealth Effect
The hefty endowment from the Howard Hughes estate frees researchers to concentrate on their 10 year plans.
As the director stated:
"While we are technically a charity and welcome any donations, we've already had a donation--a rather large one.
Our focus is on facilitating the scientist and his or her research ideas and outcome-not on fundraising."
HHMI's $18 billion+ endowment ensures HHMI is in Loudoun to stay.
Possibilities
Loudoun waits to see what they will come up with.
Like the Super Collider project in Switzerland, HHMI scientists don't know what they will discover. But they can hardly wait.
As patients are drawn to the health possibilities, medical "tourism" will see construction of more hotel space along Route 7.
Housing will be in greater demand within 5 miles of the Route 7 corridor as commercial expansion proceeds.
Homeowners stand a very good chance to recoup the -$150,000 to -$200,000 losses from peak prices most detached and townhouses have experienced since 2005.
Expect 10+ years for soaring home prices due to Route 7 land scarcity. Be ready for sharply increased property taxes as land values go up.
Rents will likely be held down if the tens of thousands of apartments planned go under the hammer and are constructed.
Larger Subdivisions in this zone:
- Broad Run Farms
- Countrywide
- Sugarland Run
- Cascades
- Sterling Park
- Dominion Station
- Ashburn Village
- Ashburn Farm
- University Center
- Lansdowne
- Belmont Country Club
- Potomac Station
- Spring Lakes
- Red Rocks
- River Creek
- Edwards Landing
- Potomac Crossing
- Exeter
- Sycamore Hill
- Kincaid Forest
- Tavistock Farms
- Oak Lawn
- Stratford
If one of the "tinkerers" comes up with a cure for cancer or a similar breakthrough, Loudoun's Route 7 corridor will become a global celebrity.
"What's a win for you?"
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