Dupage Policy Journal

When state Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst) visited the CSI Behring Plasma Donation Center in Melrose Park back on Nov. 2, she marveled at what she said the company does to preserve life and wellness.

At the facility, according to her website, she “learned about how this local business works with local residents to become the life force of a multi-step bio-therapeutic process that saves lives.”

For seven days a week, the center routinelys gather the donor plasma that many who suffer from such conditions as hemophilia and immune deficiencies need. The products are also used during such procedures as cardiac surgeries and organ transplants.

Mazzochi said she would like to see the facility, and other life-sciences businesses like it, get the kind of support from Springfield it needs to do even more.

“Other states are rolling out the red carpet for these types of businesses and tailoring college programs to well-paying jobs, while Illinois continues to require overly burdensome regulations and red tape,” she added on her website. “There are clear areas for improvement to do better. Illinois, in the nation’s heartland, with two national laboratories in DuPage County, multiple companies innovating in this field and with a highly skilled workforce, should be a life sciences national leader.”

According to Mazzochi's website, the life sciences field has taken off in recent years, with the global personalized-medicine market expected to max out at around $2.4 trillion over the next five years.

“It is a fascinating process that all begins with caring community members who donate their plasma,” Mazzochi added. “These donors are the foundation for literally giving life and hope to people nationwide needing treatment.”

And Mazzochi stresses the need is still growing.

“This is an area where we should really be helping current businesses grow and expand here rather than moving operations to other states,” she said.

A division of CSL Behring, CSL Plasma is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, and operates eight collection across Illinois.