Called the Ignite Institute for Individualized Health, the nonprofit will soon set up shop in Fairfax County and employ as many as 415 scientists and health professionals specializing in personalized medicine, or where a patient’s genetic makeup is studied so doctors can tailor treatments for conditions like cancer and Alzheimer’s.
Personalized medicine pioneer Dietrich Stephan, a scientist from California, is behind the project, as he is partnering with Inova Health Systems to build a 300,000-square-foot headquarters at a yet-to-be-determined spot in Fairfax.
In the immediate future, Ignite will work out of space at the Center for Innovative Technology along Route 28 in Herndon. It will eventually invest $200 million in the region as it grows into its permanent home over the next five years.
“The Ignite Institute is transformational for Virginia’s positioning as a world-class center for excellence for research and development,” said Gov. Tim Kaine (D), while making the Ignite announcement at the Fairfax County Government Center Nov. 16.
To land the facility, Kaine promised Ignite $3 million from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund and said he would include $22 million in grant money to Ignite in Virginia’s next budget to be paid out over four years.
For its part, Fairfax plans to back the project by issuing industrial revenue bonds that private investors can purchase to help build the Ignite headquarters.
At the announcement, which was also attended by Virginia Gov. Elect Bob McDonnell (R), Stephan said he desired Northern Virginia because of its large pool of potential research partners and its proximity to the federal government.
“Establishing our operations in this central location will provide the opportunity to collaborate with key organizations in the area, such as Inova Health System, Virginia’s top research universities and federal agencies.”
Stephan also made a point to thank economic development officials in Loudoun. The county and Town of Leesburg had worked extensively with Ignite to bring the facility to this county.
At a meeting earlier this year, Leesburg Town Manager John Wells said discussions on the possibility of Ignite moving to Leesburg had been taking up much of his time at one point. Meanwhile, documents obtained by the Independent showed that Loudoun supervisors and economic officials were also in regular discussions with Ignite but were unable to meet all of the project’s financial needs, which included assistance in finding a site and financing construction.
An economic impact study conducted by a research firm called Tripp Umbach concluded that Loudoun stood to collect about $4.4 million in annual tax revenues from Ignite by 2025, and millions more from other company's Ignite would have spawned in the county. Also, Ignite, the study said, will likely generate an additional 900 jobs by 2025 through expansion and by bringing other companies to Northern Virginia.
State. Sen. Mark Herring (D-Eastern Loudoun) was at the announcement and said he had been involved in the process to lure Ignite to the region. He said Fairfax won out because its deal was more lucrative.
“I think Loudoun would have been a good location,” he said. “But this will be good for the region and the state.”
Ignite is one in a recent string of economic coups for Fairfax. In 2008, Volkswagen of America moved its headquarters from Michigan to near Herndon, while this year, Hilton Hotels and consulting company SAIC both relocated their corporate headquarters from Southern California to Tysons Corner.
See www.ignitehealth.org/ to learn more.
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