UCSC Event Highlights Growth of Santa Cruz Biotech Industry

UCSC RNA Center’s screening of Cracking the Code ignites discussion on the growing Santa Cruz biotech industry and the future of RNA research innovation

The UC Santa Cruz RNA Center hosted a special screening of "Cracking the Code: Phil Sharp and the Biotech Revolution" at the Landmark Del Mar Theatre Monday night that drew scientists, students and local leaders to the neighborhood theater to learn about the growth of the Santa Cruz biotech industry.

Nobel Laureate, which was directed and narrated by Bill Haney and actor Mark Ruffalo, chronicles Nobel recipient Phil Sharp's life, and he's best known for the discovery of RNA splicing in 1977. Not only did his discovery earn him the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1993, but it also opened the door to all contemporary biotechnology and RNA medicine, such as mRNA vaccines.

Following screening, the session focused on a panel discussion of the potential for Santa Cruz to become a hub for biotech and the broader applications of RNA research. The panel included UCSC RNA Center co-director Harry Noller, UCSC Genomics Institute executive director Lauren Linton, biotech venture capitalist Richard Green, Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley, and Brown University researcher William Fairbrother.

The UCSC RNA Center, founded in 1992, has more than 20 research groups that work on the creation of RNA-based therapeutics and diagnostics. Members include Nobel laureate Carol Greider and Noller, recipient of the 2017 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences.

In the course of the conversation, Jeremy Sanford, co-director of the RNA Center, posed a question which struck a chord with everyone: "Why not Santa Cruz?" He challenged the panelists to consider why the Santa Cruz biotech industry has failed to achieve the status of centers such as Cambridge or San Francisco, notwithstanding UCSC's dominant role in genomics and RNA innovation.

Green, the owner of three town biotech companies, contended that Santa Cruz already possesses a budding biotech community. Linton agreed, citing the region as having the science talent and interest required to become a complete innovation hub. Both of them suggested that even more intense partnerships with medical schools and a stronger local investment infrastructure could drive that growth.

But panelists also cited a major barrier — Santa Cruz's shortage of housing. Green said that it is difficult to recruit biotech workers when potential employees are unable to afford housing. Keeley further added that UCSC's expansion of on-campus housing and proposed Measure C would ease market pressures.

As Green summed up, success for the Santa Cruz biotech industry will come when startups choose to stay and scale locally rather than move to Silicon Valley. “We’ll know we’ve made it,” he said, “when people want to stay here.”

, “when people want to stay here.”