68 Awards Expand Access to Hands-on Life Sciences Learning Across Massachusetts
WALTHAM – Today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) announced $12.3 million in funding through the MLSC’s Education and Workforce Development Grant Program.
A total of 68 awards will support more than 400 public schools, colleges, and non-profit organizations across Massachusetts through four tracks: Elementary and Secondary Education, Out-of-School Time (OST), Post-secondary Education and Training, and “Gamechanger” matching grants. Together, these investments will expand access to hands-on life sciences education, OST learning opportunities, industry-aligned certificate and degree programs, and transformational workforce development initiatives that strengthen Massachusetts’ life sciences talent pipeline and prepare learners for careers in the life sciences.
“Our life sciences industry is one of the biggest reasons Massachusetts continues to lead in innovation and economic opportunity,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These investments will prepare more students for high-demand careers, strengthen our workforce and ensure companies can continue growing and creating jobs right here in Massachusetts.”
“Our administration is committed to ensuring that students of all ages have access to the education and training needed to thrive in the life sciences,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “By supporting learning opportunities from kindergarten through post-secondary education, these investments will strengthen our workforce while expanding opportunity for communities in every corner of the state.”
Since the inception of the Life Sciences Initiative, the MLSC has invested more than $240 million through various programs supporting education and workforce training that strengthens the state’s life sciences talent pipeline. These investments have supported more than 478 public schools, 30 nonprofit organizations, and 65 colleges and universities across all 14 Massachusetts counties and every Gateway City, expanding access to life sciences learning opportunities and training initiatives for residents in the state.
“The life sciences are foundational to Massachusetts’ economy, and maintaining our leadership in this ecosystem depends on building a strong, skilled workforce,” said Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley, Co-Chair of the MLSC Board of Directors. “These investments strengthen the connection between education and industry, ensuring residents across the Commonwealth have the opportunities and resources they need to pursue rewarding careers while helping Massachusetts life sciences companies meet the workforce demands required to drive the next generation of groundbreaking discoveries.”
“Massachusetts maintains its leadership in the life sciences by investing early in the next generation of talent and ensuring that students have access to state-of-the-art facilities and industry-relevant curricula,” said MLSC President and CEO Kirk Taylor, MD. “These investments also ensure that low-income, underrepresented, and non-traditional learners from every region of Massachusetts, whether located in our Gateway Cities or rural communities, have the skills and opportunities needed to enter and grow within the life sciences workforce.”
Elementary and Secondary Education Grants
The MLSC awarded 23 grants totaling over $2.4 million through the Elementary and Secondary Education track to support more than 170 public schools across Massachusetts. The funding will provide hands-on/applied learning for students in grades 3-12 while supporting professional development for approximately 680 teachers. These grants enable the purchase of life sciences equipment, materials, supplies, and technology that strengthen classroom instruction, build technical skills, and increase student awareness of career opportunities in the life sciences.
| Awardee | Location | Award Amount |
| Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter Public School | Boston | $81,967 |
| Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School | Marlborough | $85,000 |
| Ayer Shirley Middle School | Ayer | $106,369 |
| Billerica Public Schools | Billerica | $75,136 |
| Boston Public Schools (East Boston) | Boston | $269,929 |
| Boston Public Schools | Boston | $175,291 |
| Brockton Public Schools | Brockton | $97,122 |
| Central Berkshire Regional School District | Dalton | $17,843 |
| Easthampton Public Schools | Easthampton | $69,124 |
| Everett Public Schools | Everett | $67,268 |
| Greater Lowell Technical High School | Tyngsborough | $100,000 |
| Haverhill Public Schools | Haverhill | $81,823 |
| Lowell Public Schools | Lowell | $140,370 |
| Mashpee Public Schools | Mashpee | $55,954 |
| Mass Insight Education & Research Institute | Boston | $26,060 |
| Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation (MassBioEd) | Dalton, Medford, Milford, Montague, Stoughton, Somerville, Granby | $362,404 |
| Millbury Public Schools | Millbury | $77,000 |
| Monomoy Regional School District | Chatham | $32,407 |
| Monson Public Schools | Monson | $72,168 |
| Pittsfield Public Schools | Pittsfield | $36,000 |
| Quabbin Regional School District | Barre | $70,260 |
| Uxbridge School District | Uxbridge | $47,552 |
| Worcester Public Schools | Worcester | $283,356 |
Out-of-School Time Grants
Through the Out-of-School Time track, the MLSC is awarding nearly $600,000 to 21 nonprofit organizations that provide life sciences programming beyond the traditional school day. The funding will help K-12 students located in under-resourced communities build upon classroom learning through hands-on educational experiences, build technical and professional skills, engage with state-of-the-art life sciences tools and technologies, and explore career opportunities in the industry.
| Awardee | Location | Award Amount |
| Berkshire Innovation Center | Pittsfield | $24,000 |
| Blackstone Valley Hub for Workforce Development | Whitinsville | $29,897 |
| Digital Ready | Boston | $30,000 |
| Everett Public Schools | Everett | $17,670 |
| Girls Inc. of the Valley | Holyoke | $28,500 |
| Girls Inc. of Worcester | Worcester | $28,000 |
| Harvard Medical School (HMS) MEDscience | Boston | $29,878 |
| Haverhill Public Schools | Haverhill | $25,164 |
| Kids in Tech | Lowell | $24,985 |
| LynnLab | Lynn | $30,000 |
| Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation (MassBioEd) | Boston | $30,000 |
| Museum of Science | Boston | $29,986 |
| Polus Center for Social & Economic Development | Athol | $30,000 |
| Randolph Public Schools | Randolph | $30,000 |
| Regis College | Weston | $28,920 |
| Science Club for Girls | Cambridge | $30,000 |
| Somerville Public Schools | Somerville | $29,924 |
| The BASE | Boston | $23,839 |
| The Pathway Initiative | Boston | $25,500 |
| University of Massachusetts Lowell | Lowell | $29,557 |
| Youth Development Organization | Lawrence | $20,000 |
Post-secondary Education and Training Grants
The MLSC is awarding more than $7.3 million through the Post-secondary Education and Training track to 22 academic institutions and nonprofit organizations offering industry-aligned certificate and degree programs. Funding will support the purchase and installation of laboratory equipment, materials, supplies, technology, and facility improvements that strengthen workforce training programs and prepare students for high-demand careers in the life sciences.
| Awardee | Location | Award Amount |
| American International College | Springfield | $375,000 |
| Bay Path University | Longmeadow | $374,222 |
| Bentley University | Waltham | $235,931 |
| Boston University | Boston | $500,000 |
| Brandeis University | Waltham | $442,386 |
| Clark University | Worcester | $354,443 |
| Elms College | Chicopee | $469,651 |
| Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute | Gloucester | $499,609 |
| Just A Start | Cambridge | $82,892 |
| Massasoit Community College | Brockton | $319,504 |
| Merrimack College | North Andover | $374,999 |
| Middlesex Community College | Lowell | $367,038 |
| Northeastern University | Boston | $358,570 |
| Olin College of Engineering | Needham | $355,604 |
| Salem State University | Salem | $316,229 |
| Smith College | Northampton | $252,194 |
| Suffolk University | Boston | $374,983 |
| University of Massachusetts Amherst | Hadley | $306,410 |
| University of Massachusetts Lowell | Lowell | $374,034 |
| Wentworth Institute of Technology | Boston | $245,775 |
| Westfield State University | Westfield | $111,824 |
| Worcester State University | Worcester | $212,997 |
Gamechanger Grants
Through the Gamechanger track, the MLSC is investing more than $1.9 million in two transformational workforce initiatives that will launch new programs or significantly expand existing ones. These large-scale investments support innovative education and training models that increase access and opportunity, particularly for low-income communities, while preparing students for careers in the life sciences.
| Awardee | Location | Award Amount |
| BioBuilder Educational Foundation | Statewide | $946,280 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, Boston, Lowell, Worcester | $1,000,000 |
Statements of Support:
William D. Hart, Superintendent of Everett Public Schools:
“Everett Public Schools is incredibly grateful to the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center for investing in the future of our students through this grant. The funding will allow us to establish a zSpace AR/VR learning lab within our Advanced Manufacturing Career Technical Education program, giving students access to immersive experiences that build technical skills in precision measurement and medical device manufacturing. This investment directly supports the growing life sciences workforce in Massachusetts and strengthens the connection between high school education and high-demand careers. As our students begin participating in work-based learning and cooperative education opportunities with industry partners such as Tecomet, this technology will help prepare them with the knowledge and hands-on experience needed to succeed in the medical device manufacturing field and beyond.”
Don Pinkerton, Founder and President, LynnLab
“The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center’s continued support is an investment in both our students and our community. Through the BE-Lynn program, we’re giving young people the opportunity to explore biotechnology through authentic, hands-on experiences while helping them envision futures in the life sciences. This grant enables LynnLab to inspire the next generation of innovators and build a stronger, more inclusive STEM pipeline for Massachusetts.”
Jennifer Hood-DeGrenier, PhD, Professor and Chair of Biology at Worcester State University
“The Worcester State University Biology Department is thrilled to receive a Mass Life Sciences Center Education and Workforce Development grant.Our grant proposal was titled “I Can See Clearly Now,” reflecting our aim of purchasing a modern fluorescence microscope to expose students to more sophisticated cell imaging methods than is currently possible in our department. Advanced microscopy methods are critical across the life sciences, and we are excited to incorporate use of this scope and other grant-supported equipment throughout our undergraduate and master’s-level curricula to better prepare students for high-demand careers in the life sciences sector here in Massachusetts.”
Natalie Kuldell, Founder and Executive Director of the BioBuilder Educational Foundation
“For too long, apprenticeship-quality laboratory instruction has depended on access to expert mentors and specialized facilities, . “This Gamechanger Grant enables BioBuilder, in collaboration with Transfyr, to explore how AI can make personalized, hands-on science education available to every student, giving learners objective feedback as they practice laboratory skills and work toward meaningful biotechnology credentials. We’re grateful to the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center for investing in a future where authentic science is within reach for every learner.”
Dr. David Kong, Director of the Community Biotechnology Initiative at the MIT Media Lab:
“The future of robotics, AI, and the life sciences is here, and Massachusetts must continue leading by investing in the critical technical infrastructure and educational programs to prepare the next generation of innovators. We are deeply grateful to the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center for supporting the first Cloud Laboratory for Learning at MIT, which will expand access to cutting-edge, hands-on education at the intersection of biology, AI, and robotics across the Commonwealth. By enabling learners to conduct real laboratory experiments with only an internet connection and a computer, we are opening new pathways for anyone, regardless of their economic background, to help shape the future of biotechnology.”
About the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center
The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) is a quasi-public economic development investment agency dedicated to supporting the growth and development of the life sciences in Massachusetts, home to the most verdant and productive life sciences ecosystem in the world. Through public-private funding initiatives, the MLSC supports innovation, research and development, commercialization, and manufacturing activities in the fields of biopharma, medical device, diagnostics and digital health. Since 2008, the MLSC has strategically deployed more than $1.1 billion in Massachusetts, through a combination of grants, loans, capital infrastructure investments, tax incentives and workforce development programs. These investments have created thousands of jobs and propelled the development of new therapies, devices and scientific advancements that are improving patient health and well-being in Massachusetts and beyond.
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