The goal of the Symposium on Laboratory Lifecycle Management (Lab Symposium) was to bring together experts in science, facilities design, maintenance, and renewal to discuss maximizing scientific productivity through modernizing campus facilities.
There were discussions held over three days on the UW-Madison campus: November 17, 29 and December 13, 2022. Each day featured panelists with a diverse array of experience in academic, industry, and government laboratories as well as design, real estate, and construction.
UW-Madison is expanding its biotechnology research and development capacity to accelerate industry partnerships. These efforts include significant development of real estate on the west side of campus, centering on next-generation laboratory facilities. The Wisconsin Symposium on Laboratory Lifecycle Management Report will promote a long-term approach to developing and managing our laboratories and related spaces in biotechnology facilities.
Program Committee
The Lab Symposium Program Committee consists of a team of subject matter experts, industry leaders, facility managers and architects, and UW-Madison faculty and researchers. The committee was charged with refining the goals of the Wisconsin Symposium on Laboratory Lifecycle Management and answering key questions to inform the topics for discussion and exploration during the 2022 Symposium:
- How do we maximize the impact of our research spaces?
- How can we position our research space for the future?
- How do we identify and develop operational and fiscal models to sustain growth?
Click below to see a full list of committee members.
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
List of Committee Members
| Name | Title | Org |
| Kurt Zimmerman (Co-Chair) | Senior Director, Office of Biohealth Industry Partnerships | SMPH / UW-Madison |
| Paul Seitz (Co-Chair) | Director, Strategic Initiatives | VCFA / UW-Madison |
| Rich Halberg | Senior Director, SMPH Research Cores | SMPH / UW-Madison |
| Mark Wells | Assistant Dean for Facilities, SMPH | SMPH / UW-Madison |
| Jon Audhya | Senior Assoc Dean for Basic Science, Biotech and Graduate Studies | SMPH / UW-Madison |
| Ed Borbely | Associate Dean, School of Engineering | School of Engineering / UW-Madison |
| Randi Jean Smith | Laboratory Project Mngr Supervisor, Facilities Planning & Mgmt | FP&M / UW-Madison |
| Chris Kozina | Assistant Vice Chancellor, Industry Engagement, Office of Business Engagement | Office of Business Engagement / UW-Mad |
| Tom Smith | Vice President | Institute of Asset Management |
| Aaron Olver | Managing Director | University Research Park |
| Jessica Martin Eckerly | CEO | Forward BIOLABS |
| Lisa Johnson | CEO | BioForward Wisconsin |
| Kathy Collins | Vice President of Economic Development | MadREP |
| Michael McKay | Director of Planning Design & Construction | UW Health |
| Kristi Schaeve | Industry Liaison | SMPH / UW Madison |
| Bob McDonald | Director, Division of Facilities Stewardship, Office of Research Facilities | NIH |
| Mike Wagner | Chief Investment Officer | WARF |
| Ryan Pingel | Organizational and Data Analyst | OVCRGE / UW Madison |
| Dr. Amy Kind | Associate Dean, Social Health Sciences and Programs | SMPH / UW Madison |
| Barbara A. Blodi, MD | Medical Director, Wisconsin Reading Center Professor | SMPH / UW Madison |
| Frank R. Korosec, PhD | Professor, Dir. of Research Resources, Section Chief Imaging Sciences | SMPH / UW Madison |
| Deneen Wellik, PhD | Chair and Professor, Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology | SMPH / UW Madison |
| Mark Burkard, MD, PhD | Professor, Dept. of Medicine Associate Director, Genomics and Precision Medicine, Carbone Cancer Center | SMPH / UW Madison |
| Tim Donahue | Director, Wisconsin Energy Institute | WEI / UW Madison |
| Colin Dewey | Professor, Biostatistics and Medical Informatics | SMPH / UW Madison |
| Michael Harrison | Director, Milwaukee Operations and Education Initiatives | BioForward Wisconsin |
| Megan McBride | Project Manager | FP&M / UW-Madison |
| Jesse Winters | Interim Director of the Space Management Office | FP&M / UW-Madison |
| Aaron Williams | Interim Director, Campus Planning & Landscape Architecture | FP&M / UW-Madison |
| Brent Lloyd | Real Estate Development Dir | FP&M / UW-Madison |
Overview of Discussions
Readiness
- Current landscape and opportunities in biohealth.
- Aspects of readiness
- Case Study: University of Washington School of Medicine
Operations and Renewal
- Opportunities and challenges in lab management, design and renewal
- Case Study: Pivoting labs for COVID-19
Long-Term Planning and Funding
- Forecasting long-term research needs
- Planning and managing
- Financing and budgeting
Over three days, 85 attendees participated and represented multiple UW-Madison schools, colleges and departments, biohealth industry partners, the construction and development sector, and campus affiliates including University Research Park.
Key Findings
1. Maintenance, renewal and efficient use of our existing facilities and assets are key to maximizing impact on a limited budget.
2. Current procurement processes and capital project delivery models severely constrain our ability to keep pace with our more autonomous peers.
3. Research core facilities are a significant research asset, and can be better leveraged to benefit UW, research and industry.
4. Clear need for stronger partnership between UW-Madison, government, industry, and economic development agencies to position the advantages of Dane County and Wisconsin as a high value location for health tech growth.
5. Adaptable laboratories are a priority to meet the unpredictable needs of the future of science.
6. Researchers report a high administrative burden, limiting their ability to produce high-impact science and our ability to recruit and retain top talent.
Recommendations
Capital Project Delivery Models
- Invest in lifetime facility maintenance planning
- Improve space allocation and reduce redundancy
- Invest in flexible and adaptable labs
Strengthen Relationships with Industry and State
- Leverage partnerships with local biohealth industry
- Support the Department of Administration’s investment in facilities development to move projects faster.
- Fund deferred maintenance
- Build industry and government partnerships for growth
Improve Campus Systems and Culture
- Reduce administrative burden on researchers
- Increase transparency of decision-making for resource allocation and data use
- Share space and research administration support between schools and colleges