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Roanoke seeks manager of biotech labs after Virginia Tech backs out

Roanoke leaders are searching for a manager of a biotechnology lab after the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center backed out of initial plans to operate the facility.

The research center is still overseeing construction of the nascent lab building on Jefferson Avenue. But the center, a subsidiary of the Virginia Tech Foundation, will no longer run the lab as an extension of the Blacksburg-based research park as originally conceived, according to a city official.

The city, Carilion Clinic, Virginia Tech and other regional partners pooled resources to stand up the multi-million-dollar laboratory, which aims to attract and grow biotech startups. Crews are currently renovating the Carilion-owned building into 40,000 square feet of shared lab space.

University leaders reassessed after Brett Malone, then president of the research center, left in September, according to Marc Nelson, the city’s economic development director. 

“Brett had expertise in running labs,” Nelson said. “When he left, the [Virginia Tech] Foundation very fairly looked at it and said, ‘This is not something that we are equipped to do.’”

Malone departed Blacksburg for a similar job at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s scientific research center. Through a spokesperson there, Malone declined to comment.

“Just because they’re not running labs doesn’t mean the university won’t be involved in some way,” Nelson said. “We have a good group of partners, but the things we have to nail down is how this building is going to be managed and who will manage the labs on a day-to-day basis.” 

Mary Trigiani, chief strategy officer at the Virginia Tech Foundation, described the lab building as “a strong story for Roanoke and another credential in its biotech industry journey.” 

Trigiani said officials have been talking for a year and a half about who would be best suited to manage the labs.

“The best practice is to have a professional lab entity to manage the building and that is where this is going,” she said. “This isn’t unilateral here. This was basically, ‘What is the best way to do this?’ And the best way to do it is to find a really terrific lab management firm. That process is underway, of that search.”

Announced in 2023, the project was expected to open in late 2024 and generate 250 jobs within its first five years. Nelson said current plans are for the facility to open early in 2026.

Virginia gave the city $15.7 million to create the labs, and the city provided $1.9 million in federal pandemic relief money. The property at 1030 S. Jefferson St. dates to the 1970s and most recently housed a sleep center and diabetes care services. 

Former Carilion Clinic CEO Nancy Agee said in 2023 the space would attract startups in the life sciences, biotechnology and healthcare fields. 

“Most importantly, the building will be an innovative gathering place for our region’s greatest minds to collaborate with those who have promising new ideas about exciting and challenging projects,” she said in a press release then. Carilion on Monday referred questions to the city. 

Nelson said the city and Carilion are hashing out an agreement for building management. Only then can they sign a contract with a third party to oversee the labs. He joked that city officials working on the project are not capable of doing that part.

“We don’t want Marc Nelson managing a biochemical facility,” Nelson said.

Nelson said the General Assembly approved $4 million if Roanoke can bring a cell and gene therapy company to the building.

Elizabeth McClanahan, president of the Virginia Tech research center, said in a statement: “VTCRC was thrilled to land Luminary Therapeutics as the building’s first tenant, ahead of the finished remodeling that is being led by the VTCRC team.” Luminary spun out of the university and is a clinical-stage company developing cell therapy treatments for cancer.

Cowell clinches Georgia job after talk of Roanoke issues

Former Roanoke City Manager Bob Cowell has landed a job in Georgia, 13 months after resigning the Star City role under a cloud.

Commissioners of the Athens-Clarke County government voted 8-1 on July 15 to appoint Cowell as the community’s new city manager. He starts on Monday.

“I am thrilled with the opportunity to join you all on the 28th,” Cowell told commissioners at the meeting. “I will not get everything 100 percent correct, guarantee that as we move forward, but I want to assure you, the community and the staff members will never doubt my commitment to the organization and to this community as we go forward.” 

Roanoke City Council parted ways with Cowell in June 2024 after allegations over how he handled claims of a toxic workplace environment. Roanoke hired Valmarie Turner, a top administrator in Fairfax City, in January.

Athens and Clarke County have a unified government that oversees about 128,000 people. Athens is home to University of Georgia, a land-grant institution.

One commissioner voted against Cowell’s hiring and one commissioner abstained. Both said it had nothing to do with Cowell but with the hiring process.

Discord in Roanoke, however, did come up at last week’s meeting, including mention of civil lawsuits Cowell is facing against former finance staff alleging retaliation. Cowell in court records called those claims a “smear campaign.” Court hearings are scheduled for next month.

Commissioner Ovita Thornton said she received emails about the issues but said media coverage didn’t resonate with her. (“They wrote some ugly stuff about me, Bob, I can tell you.”)

“Nobody can say this man is wrong or right until after whatever the verdict is,” Thornton said. “As far as whatever his past or background is, hell — I mean, heck — if that’s true, if it's true, then he’s going to be even a better manager.”

Commissioners picked Cowell out of four finalists who visited for meet-and-greets. A search firm provided resumes for 50 candidates.

Athens-Clarke County was on its third interim city manager and had been without a permanent chief executive for a year.

Cowell will receive a salary of $247,500, Mayor Kelly Girtz said in an email. Cowell did not respond to a text for comment.

Longtime Independent Living Center director remembers ADA signing

Karen Michalski-Karney was a prominent part of a Monday Roanoke ceremony honoring the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

And that was for good reason: She was at the signing of the landmark legislation by President George H.W. Bush at the White House on July 26, 1990.

City officials joined with about three dozen community members for the Monday event, held at the Henrietta Lacks Plaza.

Feet away was the city’s soon-to-be-opened ADA ramp, which will give those with disabilities a much improved way to enter the Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building. Anyone seeking such entrance has had to enter the bottom floor, to the side of the building.

In an interview after the ceremony, Michalski-Karney said one of her memories of the day 35 years ago was Rev. Harold Wilke taking a ceremonial pen with his foot from Bush. Wilke, who died in 2003, was an armless United Church of Christ minister whose advocacy work helped lead to the ADA.

Michalski-Karney had become the director of Roanoke’s Blue Ridge Independent Living Center in 1989 - and she remains so today. She was invited to the White House ceremony through her job.

Bush’s attitude that day impressed upon her his understanding of discrimination that those with disabilities encountered, she said.

When asked what the new city hall ramp means to her, since it’s in such a noticeable spot, Michalski-Karney said: “It means that people with disabilities are going to be able to enter the front door of the municipal building,” she said. “Get it?”

Michalski-Karney said the ADA has brought significant improvements through the years, but much work is still to be done.

That included action taken by the council at a Monday night meeting. It approved $25 million in bond funding to pay for fixes and upkeep. A top priority will be over  $4 million in repairs for 14 elevators across various city buildings.

That’s important, Mayor Joe Cobb said, particularly on “this 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.”