Blacksburg, VA – Luna Innovations Incorporated, a profitable technology development company that has steadily grown in revenues over the last six years, and Carilion Health System, a $1 billion healthcare company serving approximately 1 million people in Western Virginia, will partner to develop a biomedical cluster in southwest Virginia, and bring more than 50 jobs to Roanoke. By expanding its headquarters to the new Riverside Corporate Centre – the 27-acre business park under development in Roanoke – Luna continues its growth of high-value jobs in Virginia.
 Dr. Kent Murphy, Luna Innovations CEO, makes comments at the Roanoke Riverside Centre announcement |
“This is an extraordinary day for Luna. Our new partnership with Carilion is further illustration of my deep belief that we can discover, nurture, and commercialize innovations that solve global problems in our own back yard – and at the same time produce 21st century, cutting-edge jobs to benefit southwest Virginians,” said Kent Murphy, PhD, Luna Innovations' Founder and CEO. With an extraordinary team of scientists, engineers, professionals and a network of facilities spanning across Virginia, Luna is breaking all the molds through its mission to align the technology needs of the marketplace with the research that takes place in academic, industrial and government laboratories. It is anticipated that the new headquarters in Roanoke, covering 22,000 square feet including lab space, will open in 2006. Luna will also continue to grow the team at its current facilities in Blacksburg. At the company's core is the creation of equity built around disruptive technologies in sensing and advanced materials. Luna's current innovation pipeline includes medical monitoring devices, next-generation cancer drug development, and nanomaterials-based MRI contrast agents-- all opportunities that further solidify the synergistic partnership with Carilion Health System. |
“Carilion is thrilled to be partnering with a company like Luna, truly a leader in technology and nanotechnology development,” said Edward G. Murphy, MD, Carilion Health System President and CEO. “Through the efforts of the Carilion Biomedical Institute, we are excited to work with Luna to build a biotechnology core in southwest Virginia."
Since 2000, Luna has created four spin-off companies that have developed leading-edge products in telecom, energy, wireless factory automation, and biotech instrumentation, while bringing in corporate partners, government research funding, product revenue and venture capital to the Commonwealth. Luna's initiatives attracted a Fortune 100 company to Blacksburg, and in 2003, a Luna spin-off located in Roanoke's Warehouse Row Business Center, was acquired by an international petroleum software and consulting services company.
Today, Luna Innovations operates four facilities in Blacksburg, Charlottesville, Hampton Roads and Danville.
ABOUT LUNA INNOVATIONS:
Luna Innovations is an employee-owned, small business with a successful business
model centered on inventing, building and commercializing novel technologies.
Core technologies of the company reside in fiber optic, ultrasonic, and wireless
sensing, integrated systems and advanced materials.
Since 2000, the company has produced four new companies with focuses including manufacturing process control, next-generation cancer drug development, analytical instrumentation, advanced petroleum monitoring systems and wireless remote asset management. Luna has worked hard to keep these new companies within Virginia creating hundreds of high technology jobs throughout the state. For more information see www.lunainnovations.com or email
ABOUT CARILION HEALTH SYSTEM:
Carilion Health System is a $1 billion healthcare company serving approximately
1 million people in Western Virginia. Carilion is a comprehensive, integrated
system employing more than 9000 people at eight not-for-profit hospitals
and 60 physician practices and primary care centers. As part of its mission
to improve the health of the communities it serves, Carilion operates the
region's only level 1 trauma center, air ambulance and neo-natal intensive
care program, along with a full service cancer center and regional heart
center.
Contact:
Karin Clark, Director of Marketing and Communications
Email:
Phone: 1.540.552.5128