A bipartisan Assembly task force that would attempt to identify ways to attract the life sciences industry to New Jersey was formed Wednesday by Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver (D-Essex) and lower house Majority Leader Joseph Cryan (D-Union).

Oliver and Cryan said the task force will try to identify ways in which New Jersey can retain and attract new life science industry to spur growth and create jobs across the state. The panel would also attempt to identify the barriers to life science growth in New Jersey and examine the successful programs in other states that are encouraging growth and attracting life sciences companies to see if there are financial, tax and regulatory incentives that New Jersey should be exploring.

The task force will include from the Assembly Higher Education Committee Chairwoman Pamela R. Lampitt (D-Camden) and Vice Chairman Thomas P. Giblin (D-Essex), from the Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee Chairman John J. Burzichelli (D-Gloucester) and Vice Chairwoman Annette Quijano (D-Union), and from the Telecommunications and Utilities Committee Chairman Upendra Chivukula (D-Somerset) and Vice Chairman Wayne P. DeAngelo (D-Mercer).