Campus Watch logo. Graphic by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.

By Hugh Fisher

Kannapolis Citizen

As part of the mosaic of companies and universities at the North Carolina Research Campus, newest tenant Pelican Life Sciences will assist researchers by providing products and services they need to do the business of biotechnology research.

"We're very happy to be in business with Pelican Life Sciences," said Clyde Higgs, vice president of business development at Research Campus developer Castle & Cooke, in last week's announcement.

"We continue to reach out and find success with exciting companies like Pelican Life Sciences in the medical devices, diagnostics, health and wellness and agri-bio tech fields."

But what does that mean for the companies who will be doing business and making scientific discoveries at the Research Campus?

"One analogy is that we are akin to the companies who provided picks and shovels to the prospectors during the gold rush era," said Bill Baugh, CEO of Pelican Life Sciences, one of the company's founders.

In order to do scientific research, the people working at Research Campus facilities will need a host of materials and supplies — everything from gloves and sterile containers to specialized instruments, safety gear, and off-site laboratory services.

Those are a few of the services that Pelican's affiliated companies provide.

"Pelican is in the business of facilitating life science research by providing quality products with highly personalized service. We provide the tools researchers need to conduct their experiments and analysis," said Baugh.

Based in Huntersville, the company was founded last December. It owns or oversees operations in four U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom.

Among its subsidiaries are Continental Lab Products, a company which markets scientific research supplies such as gloves, instruments and safety equipment; Kemp Biotechnologies, whose services include cell cultures, cell banking and a variety of other biological services; and PML Microbiologicals, provider of culture media and other products for researchers.

Pelican Life Sciences has acquired a total of eight biological research and product-supply companies since its inception.

According to the company, Pelican Life Sciences will base its research and development center at the campus in order to make use of the scientific labs and facilities being provided by David Murdock and other investors.

With between five and 10 researchers working out of the Research Campus facility to start, according to the company, Baugh is anticipating continued growth due to the Research Campus project.

"I'm excited about every organization that is joining this collaborative effort," Baugh said. "David Murdock has shown great vision and fortitude in driving this project at an incredible pace."

"This project is a unique example of American capitalism and ingenuity and Pelican Life Sciences is proud to be part of the NCRC."

*

Contact Hugh Fisher at 704-933-3450 or hfisher@kannapoliscitizen.com.