Viral Genetics Inc., a life science research company based in San Marino, California, announced plans to relocate its research facilities to a bio cluster in Georgetown, Texas. The company is partnering with Texas A&M College of Medicine scientist Karen Newell, who was awarded $750,000 from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund to research biofuels and drug therapy. Newell is a veteran researcher who has issued 30 patent pendings in her career.

"This grant validates an exciting line of research into increasing yields of plant oils including algae biofuel and agricultural oils such as palm or corn oil," said Viral Genetics CEO Haig Keledjian.

The new, 2,000-square-foot facility will provide work space for Newell. Viral optioned the rights to commercial develop her work through the University of Colorado. That includes therapies for HIV and AIDS, Lyme disease, cancer, strep, and staph.

The center will employ a small research team, but it said it will eventually hire many more workers. The grant will be administered over five years. The Georgetown cluster is already planning for five new wet labs, a second tissue culture lab, a Class 1000 clean room, and a nanotechnology optical laboratory.