Firefly BioWorks Awarded $500,000 Small Business Matching Grant
From left to right: Lydia Villa-Komaroff, Ph.D., Director and CSO, Cytonome/ST; Davide Marini, Co-Founder and CEO, Firefly BioWorks; Susan Windham-Bannister, Ph.D., President and CEO, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center; Edward Benz, M.D., President and CEO, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
On May 23, 2012, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center awarded a $500,000 Small Business Matching Grant to Firefly BioWorks of Cambridge. The grant will match federal small business grant funding the company has been awarded previously. The grant represents the third round of awards issued under the Center's Small Business Matching Grant ("SBMG") Program. Eight companies have now received a total of $4 million in grants since the Center's first round of awards in May of 2010. Read the press release here >>
Ground Broken On First In the Nation
Biomanufacturing Center
Governor Deval Patrick joined the May 2012 groundbreaking for the $28 million Massachusetts Accelerator for Biomanufacturing (MAB) at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in Fall River. The MAB has been funded in part through a $14.6 million capital grant from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center. Read the press release here >>
BioSurplus Raises Capital for Expansion into Boston area
From left to right: Preston “Cinco” Plumb, President & CEO, BioSurplus; Angus McQuilken, VP for Communications, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center; Jackie Townsend, M.S., Chief Marketing Officer, BioSurplus; and Robert Yacobian, Leasing Director, Cummings Properties, celebrating BioSurplus’ arrival in Massachusetts
On May 10, 2012, BioSurplus, Inc., a leading provider of equipment management services and pre-owned laboratory instruments, announced the completion of the majority of its $1.5 million capital raise from KI Investment Holdings. The funds will be used to fund an East Coast expansion into Boston. Read the press release here >>
Sony DADC BioSciences opens Massachusetts office
From left to right: Christoph Mauracher, head of the BioSciences Unit, Sony DADC Biosciences, Denise Simmons, Vice Mayor of the City of Cambridge, MA, Susan Windham-Bannister, Ph.D., President & CEO, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, and Ali Tinazli, Ph.D., Director of Business Development & Sales, BioSciences, Sony DADC Biosciences
Sony DADC Biosciences announced the opening of a new US office, located at 2 Canal Park, 5th Floor, in Cambridge, Massaschusetts. The company, headquarted in Austria, develops and manufactures the advanced polymer-based smart consumables that form key components for modern healthcare diagnostic systems. Read the press release here >>
UMass Lowell Awarded $10 million for Emerging Technologies Center
On April 30, 2012, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center announced the approval of a $10 million capital grant to support construction of UMass Lowell's Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center. The 84,000-square-foot, $70 million Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center (ETIC) is scheduled to open this fall. Read the press release here >>
Center awards $2.3 million in Accelerator Loans
On April 24, 2012, the Center awarded $2.3 million in loans to five early-stage life sciences companies through the Center’s Accelerator Loan Program. The Accelerator Program provides loans of up to $750,000 to promising early-stage companies engaged in life sciences research and development, commercialization and manufacturing. This was the Center’s fifth round of Accelerator loans. Read the press release here >>
Center joins Novartis for Cambridge groundbreaking
On April 12, 2012, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center President & CEO Susan Windham-Bannister joined Novartis and other local officials at a groundbreaking at Novartis' growing research facility.
Pluromed, Inc. is Fourth Company to Repay Center Loan
On April 12, 2012, the Center and Pluromed, Inc. announced the Woburn-based company's repayment of the Center's Accelerator loan, with interest. In 2009, Pluromed, Inc. was awarded a loan of $500,000 from the Center. Read the press release here >>
From left to right: Sanofi Biosurgery Senior Vice President and General Manager Alison Lawton and Pluromed President & CEO Jean-Marie Vogel present a check to Massachusetts Life Sciences Center President & CEO Susan Windham-Bannister representing Pluromed’s repayment of the Center’s 2009 Accelerator loan.
4s3 Bioscience, Inc. Repays Center's Accelerator Loan
On March 16, 2012, the Center and 4s3 Bioscience, Inc. announced the Medford-based company's repayment of the Center's Accelerator loan, with interest. This is the third company to repay an Accelerator loan from the Center. Read the press release here >>
Fom left to right: Susan Windham-Bannister, President & CEO, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, Timothy Harris, President & CEO, 4s3 Bisocience, Inc., and Dustin Armstrong, Ph.D., Vice President of Research, 4s3 Bioscience, Inc.
NECN Business interviews Susan Windham-Bannister
On Friday, March 16, NECN Business interviewed Susan Windham-Bannister, President and CEO of Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, for their monthly Life Science report.
Read the story and watch the interview here >>
$5 Million Federal Grant Will Build Metro Boston’s Life Sciences Workforce -- Center to receive $800,000 over four years to supplement the Internship Challenge!
On March 8, 2012, Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced receiving a 4-year $5 million life sciences grant from the U.S. Department of Labor that will grow and maintain the area’s life sciences workforce. The Metro Boston Skilled Careers in Life Sciences (SCILS) initiative will provide industry specific job training for 360 metro Boston residents, support an additional 300 post-secondary students in internships, and provide career counseling and outreach services to over 3,000 individuals in Boston’s most competitive industries.
SCILS is being implemented in collaboration with the City of Boston’s Jobs and Community Services, and the MetroNorth, Metro Southwest, and South Coastal workforce regions. Training partners will include Boston University, Quincy College, and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center. The program will serve more than 80 cities and towns in Metro Boston.
Susan Windham-Bannister, President & CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, addressing the audience following Mayor Menino's announcement at the Boston University School of Medicine on March 8, 2012.
Read the press release here >>
Center's President & CEO Susan Windham-Bannister Tours Albright Technologies in Leominster
On March 8, 2012, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center President & CEO Susan Windham-Bannister visited and toured Leominster-based Albright Technologies, a company that specializes in manufacturing prototype and low volume production silicone components for medical, pharmaceutical and life science applications. Albright has participated in the Internship Challenge, a workforce development program offered by the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center that connects students and recent college graduates with paid internship opportunities, funded by the Center, at life sciences companies across the state. The company hired two of their interns (pictured below) that participated in the program as project engineers at the conclusion of their internships.
From left to right: Phayhean Soo, Project Engineer, Albright Technologies; Diane Hewitt, Cooperative Education for Engineering & Technology, UMass Lowell; Susan Windham-Bannister, President & CEO, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center; David Comeau, President, Albright Technologies; John Henshaw, Assistant Dean, School of Business, Science, and Technology. Mount Wachusett Community College; Veasna Nhem, Project Engineer, Albright Technologies.
View the slideshow for more photos from this event:
Center attends the Massachusetts CRO CMO Cluster Symposium
On March 6, 2012, Pamela Norton, Vice President for Industry Relations and Programs, participated in the Massachusetts CRO CMO Cluster Introduction Symposium, sponsored by MassBio's Massachusetts CRO CMO committee. The symposium was an opportunity for attendees to learn about accelerating drug development through a series of case studies, interactive panel discussions, and networking sessions. The Keynote address was given by Josef H. von Rickenbach, Chair of the Board, CEO and Founder of Paraxel International.
From left to right: Douglas Banks, Associate Vice President for Economic Development, University of Massachusetts President's Office, and Pamela Norton, Vice President for Industry Relations and Programs, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center.
Center announces Tax Incentives Targeting Growth at 28 Companies
On February 22, 2012, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center announced that the Center's Board of Directors has awarded $21.2 million in tax incentives to 28 life sciences companies. The recipient companies have committed to creating more than 940 new jobs in the Commonwealth this year. Read the press release here >>
Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts receives $50,000 Center grant
The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center has awarded a $50,000 grant to the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts. The grant will allow for a 10-week module in STEM within the FaB Factor Program, which is an early intervention and prevention program for at-risk, inner-city girls ranging from five to 17 years old. Read the press release here >>
Center launches 2012-2013 Internship Challenge
On February 1, 2012, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center launched its 2012-13 Internship Challenge. The workforce development program, now in its fourth year, focuses on enhancing the talent pipeline for Massachusetts life sciences companies and will provide paid internship opportunities at life sciences companies for students and recent graduates. Read the press release here >>
Center awards $10 million grant to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center has awarded Dana-Farber Cancer Institute a $10 million grant to support the expansion of its pioneering cancer imaging research program. The grant was given as part of the 2011 Capital Project Matching Grant program and will help fund the establishment of the Molecular Cancer Imaging Facility. Read the press release here >>
Center awards $5 million for the Museum of Science's Hall of Human Health exhibit
On January 25, 2012, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center awarded the Museum of Science, Boston with a $5 million grant toward the construction of the Hall of Human Life, scheduled to open in 2013. This grant was awarded as part of the Center's 2011 Capital Project Matching Grant program. Read the press release here >>
Center provides $5 million to the Joslin Diabetes Center
On January 25, 2012, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center announced a $5 million grant to the Joslin Diabetes Center. The grant and matching funds will be used to build an innovative Translational Center for the Cure of Diabetes. Read the press release here >>
IDBS opens Healthcare Center of Excellence in Burlington
Governor Deval Patrick and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center joined officials from IDBS to open the company's Healthcare Center of Excellence and to celebrate the expansion of the IDBS business in Massachusetts. Read the press release here >>
From left to right: IDBS Healthcare Marketing Director Simon Beaulah, Massachusetts Office of International Trade & Investment Executive Director Kenneth Brown, State Senator Kenneth Donnelly, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center COO Melissa Walsh, IDBS VP of Business Development Chris Molloy, Governor Deval Patrick, IDBS VP of Healthcare Dr. Paul Denny-Gouldson and UK Deputy Consul Anne Avidon
Center launches Third Year of Small Business Matching Grant Program
On January 4, 2012, the Center opened the third year of the Center’s Small Business Matching Grant (SBMG) Program. The Program provides grant funding to match federal small business grants for early-stage life sciences companies in Massachusetts. $3 million is available for the program in this round. Click here for more information >>
Center awards $2.2 million in Accelerator Loans
In December, 2011 the Center awarded $2.2 million in loans to three early-stage life sciences companies through the Center’s Accelerator Loan Program. The Accelerator Program provides loans of up to $750,000 to promising early-stage companies engaged in life sciences research and development, commercialization and manufacturing. This was the Center’s fourth round of Accelerator loans. Read the press release here >>
NECN Business interviews Susan Windham-Bannister, president and CEO of the MLSC
Read the story and view the interview >>
Massachusetts reaches out to growing life sciences clusters in Chile and Brazil
The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center has participated in Governor Deval Patrick’s Innovation Economy Mission to Chile and Brazil. The visit to Chile included the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Chilean President Sebastian Pinera to expand collaboration between Massachusetts and Chile in the innovation economy, with a focus on growing jobs and opportunities in the areas of education, clean energy and biotechnology. The delegation then traveled to Brasilia, Sao Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro, visiting Brazilian companies, universities and government leaders to highlight all that Massachusetts has to offer. The visit to Brazil focuses on creating jobs in the life sciences, IT, clean energy and education sectors and solidifying the already strong Massachusetts-Brazil connection.
Governor Deval Patrick and Life Sciences Center President & CEO Susan Windham-Bannister at signing of innovation economy agreement with Chilean President Sebastián Piñera
H3 Biomedicine opens new headquarters in Cambridge
H3 Biomedicine Inc., a cancer drug discovery company, has dedicated a new headquarters and 24,000 square feet of state-of-the-art laboratory space in Cambridge. Over the next year, the company plans to increase its staff to 70 people and further expand into more laboratory space within its building as it continues to pursue its mission to fulfill the promise of personalized cancer medicine. Read the release here >>
Massachusetts Life Sciences Center Vice President for Communications Angus McQuilken joins officials from H3 Biomedicine and Eisai to dedicate H3’s new headquarters and lab facilities in Cambridge
