Burnham Institute Selects Orlando for New East Coast Operation
Orlando community unites to bring The Burnham Institute to Lake Nona

August 23, 2006, ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Burnham Institute for Medical Research (Burnham) announced today in a joint press conference with Florida Governor Jeb Bush, that it has selected Lake Nona, Orlando, Fla. as the location for its new east coast research facility. Burnham worked with Enterprise Florida in a site selection process that had been narrowed to Orlando and Port St. Lucie, from five Florida cities that submitted proposals.

Lake Nona is a 7,000-acre master planned community located in Southeast Orlando, one of Central Florida’s fastest growing regions. It is a Development of Regional Impact located close to Orlando International Airport that at build-out will have more than 9,000 residences, and 6.5 million square feet of retail, life science and commercial space.

“In a matter of five months to the day, this community has rallied together to assemble some of the most powerful synergistic relationships in the industry: A university and research based College of Medicine, a VA hospital and today, and one of the world’s leading research institutions, The Burnham Institute,” said Rasesh Thakkar, CEO of Tavistock Group, which owns Lake Nona through its wholly owned subsidiary Lake Nona Property Holdings, LLC. “It is a reflection of how this community can turn dreams into reality.”

In a collaborative effort to present a compelling incentive package, Tavistock Group and the Tavistock Foundation contributed millions of dollars. Additionally, Lake Nona donated 50-acres of land.

“I invest in life sciences and biotech companies that save lives and improve the human condition,” said Joe Lewis, Tavistock Group Chairman and Founder. “I am thrilled that this type of transformational activity will now be taking place in Central Florida, which is also home.”

“The Tavistock Group has a long standing interest in the life sciences industry and has invested more than $250 million into private and public companies with compelling science,” added Shehan Dissanayake, CEO of Tavistock Life Sciences. "We are looking forward to partnering with Burnham and the other world class institutions to further the state’s commitment to the life sciences industry.”

Tavistock brought this vision to Lake Nona through its commitment to life sciences, biotech and healthcare development. The new Burnham facility will anchor the Lake Nona Science and Technology Park, alongside the University of Central Florida healthcare campus, which houses the College of Medicine.

The donation from the Tavistock Foundation, chaired by Vivienne Lewis, initiated an overwhelming response from the community in both public and private contributions.

“Our vision for Lake Nona as a center of excellence for health and life sciences began to solidify with the recent news of approval for UCF’s College of Medicine, as well as being a preferred site for the new VA Hospital,” added Rasesh. “With the addition of Burnham, Lake Nona will have complementary academic, medical research and healthcare facilities creating a Medical City with boundless opportunities for synergy.”
Lake Nona will work with Burnham to develop specific plans for their research center in the coming months.

Lake Nona
Lake Nona is an approximately 7,000-acre residential/commercial planned community comprised of three main areas: Lake Nona North, Lake Nona Central and Lake Nona South. With its prime location between the Orlando International Airport and the University of Central Florida in Southeast Orlando, this Development of Regional Impact (DRI) has the ability to fulfill the city of Orlando’s growing need for a diverse housing mix. Lake Nona has approved entitlements for 9,000 residential, 2,250 hotel resort/villa units, 950,000 square feet of retail, 950,000 square feet of office space, and 4.9 million square feet of commercial space. Recent developments will make Lake Nona home to the University of Central Florida medical campus and a new VA Hospital. Lake Nona is owned by Lake Nona Property Holdings, LLC (LNPH), led by parent company Tavistock Group, a private investment company with a broad portfolio of assets around the world. www.lakenonaorlando.com

Tavistock Group
Tavistock Group is a privately held investment company with diverse holdings in real estate, life sciences companies, financial services, oil and gas investments, manufacturing, and consumer goods and retail companies. The group’s exclusive residential club communities include the top-rated Lake Nona Golf & Country Club, Old Fort Bay in the Bahamas, and the exclusive Isleworth Golf & Country Club. Tavistock Group has just announced their newest development, Albany, a private, residential, golf and resort-style community on the island of New Providence in The Bahamas. For more information please visit www.Tavistock.com.

Tavistock Life Sciences
Tavistock Life Sciences (TLS) is a division of the Tavistock Group, a privately-held organization that invests in a select number of life science opportunities with exceptional technology profiles. TLS also partners with scientists, founders, and inventors on compelling early stage biotech opportunities and enables all parties to maximize value and wealth within a stimulating environment. TLS prides itself on being a dynamic, highly responsive organization with a long-term commitment to its partnerships. TLS is the ideal partner, maximizing value through several support systems, which allow scientists to focus on their areas of expertise. www.tavistocklifesciences.com

Burnham Institute for Medical Research.
The Burnham Institute for Medical Research, founded in 1976, is an independent not-for-profit biomedical research institution dedicated to advancing the frontiers of scientific knowledge and providing the foundation for tomorrow's medical therapies. The Institute is home to three major centers: the Cancer Center, the Del E. Webb Neuroscience and Aging Center, and the Infectious and Inflammatory Disease Center. Since 1981, the Institute's Cancer Center has been a member of the National Cancer Institute's prestigious Cancer Centers program. Discoveries by Burnham scientists have contributed to the development of new drugs for Alzheimer's disease, heart disease and several forms of cancer. Today the Institute employs over 725 people, including more than 550 scientists. The majority of the Institute's funding derives from federal sources, but private philanthropic support is essential to continuing bold and innovative research. For additional information about the Institute and ways to support the research efforts of the Institute, visit www.burnham.org

Press Contact:
Kelly Lafferman, Tavistock Group
klafferman@tavistock.com
407-909-9925

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