Bio is big in Maryland — and getting bigger. Ours is one of eight states that together account for more than 60 percent of biomedical research spending by the National Institutes of Health and nearly 65 percent of all biotechnology patents, according to the Maryland Governor’s Workforce Investment Board. And since occupations related to life sciences and health are projected to grow by more than 20 percent over the next several years statewide, it’s a fi eld that promises some of the future’s most sought-after employment opportunities.

Unfortunately, for too many Marylanders, especially in low-income urban communities, the Lab Coat Express is already leaving the station. A 2004 National Science Foundation survey revealed that in Maryland, only 7.5 percent of science technicians are African-American. This compared with a national African-American population of 12.3 percent and a Baltimore City African-American population of close to 68 percent. Under-representation in such a high-growth career field — as employment opportunities in other fields diminish — is a probable indicator that an already struggling minority community will fall even further behind.

In Baltimore, thanks to a new partnership, there is an unprecedented prospect for positive outcomes — new job opportunities for unemployed, underemployed and retooled workers; economic development for low-income communities; barrier- breaking personal interconnections between university employees and neighborhood residents; an intriguing crosspollination of ideas and enterprise among university scientists, private industry researchers, community motivators and community college career seekers; as well as overall expansion and diversity of the regional work force.

All of this is the great anticipation of everyone involved in launching the Baltimore City Community College Life Sciences Institute at the University of Maryland, Baltimore Biomedical Research Park on the city’s west side. Housed along with 12 private biotech enterprise tenants, the institute welcomes its fi rst class of community college students this month to pursue rewarding high demand career fields such as bioscience, and chemical and environmental technology. The institute will offer students and faculty access to university researchers and facilities, onsite biotechnology businesses and mentorship opportunities, all of which will have a signifi cant impact on the participation of urban minorities in a skilled work force.