University officials will take part in a “trade mission” today set up by Gov. Tim Pawlenty to highlight the state’s educational, research, technology and staffing resources in the field of biosciences.

Academic Health Center Vice President Frank Cerra will represent the University.

Assistant Vice President for Research at the Academic Health Center Mark Paller was also supposed to attend, but he had appointments with his patients.

The half-day bus tour will show the University’s capabilities for supporting and fueling Minnesota’s biosciences industry, he said.

The tour will stop at the St. Paul campus’ Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics Facility, where the University’s stem cell research is conducted, Paller said.

He said the event is a nice way for bioscience people from the public and private sectors to meet in person.

“I think (Pawlenty) wanted to make sure all the different parts of the bioscience world are connected well, and that we all know what we have to offer each other,” he said.

Besides University officials, the tour will also include Minnesota State Colleges and Universities’ officials. Bioscience business and financial leaders will also be on hand.

The event will begin and end at the Governor’s Reception Room at the Capitol.

Pawlenty plans to make a biosciences announcement at the end of the tour.