U of M partners to turn medical research into practice

Officials with the University of Minnesota, the Hormel Foundation and the Mayo Clinic signed an agreement Tuesday they say will improve medical research, particularly in the area of cancer research.

Scientists at the Hormel Institute in Austin research nontoxic ways to prevent or control cancer. A partnership between the institute, the university and the Mayo Clinic will turn research findings into medical practice more effectively and efficiently, Hormel officials said.

"All of them are so huge and so big, and doing wonderful things themselves. But to bring everyone together, we really want to create the best medical research institute," said Zigang Dong, executive director of the Hormel Institute medical research center in Austin.

The partnership between the three institutions has been a goal since 2008, when the Hormel Institute underwent a $25 million expansion.

Under the agreement, the Hormel Foundation will provide the research facility and ongoing funding for the joint research.

Dong said the expansion promises to add 100 new faculty and staff positions to the Austin facility. Researchers will continue to focus on cancer control and prevention.