You'll get a lot more out of the talent when you get them to talk to each other and collaborate. Ball emphasized that the department will make contributions beyond basic research. For example, no one is teaching bio-informatics to the next generation. We can combine education, research, and practical use. Tissue engineering is likely to benefit from the combined department as well.
Ball also hopes to create a smooth interface for industry.
The proposal to form the department included the ambitious prediction that five start-up companies would be formed by 2006. Ball said that's a reasonable goal, especially with the biotech incubator BioStart nearby. They just need people to have ideas and to create projects. It's going to be successful, because the momentum is building. It's going to be a winner.