Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) President and CEO Kirk Taylor, MD joined leadership, faculty, and students from Boston University (BU) to celebrate the launch of the Biomedical Research to Industry Development, Growth, Engineering, and Scale-up (BRIDGES) internship preparation program and cut the ribbon on a new workforce training facility at BU College of Engineering, made possible through a $750,000 capital grant from the MLSC.
The BRIDGES internship preparation program provides hands-on, industry-aligned training in biomaterials, cell and tissue engineering, drug delivery, and biomanufacturing. The MLSC grant supported the purchase and installation of industry-standard analytical and automation equipment including nanoparticle tracking equipment, an FTIR microscope and software library, a flow cytometer, and additional cell and tissue analysis systems.
These tools reflect the technologies students will encounter in careers across Massachusetts’ life sciences industry, ensuring graduates gain practical, real-world experience before entering the workforce.
In its first year, BRIDGES has already served 50 students, strengthening the talent pipeline for companies across the Commonwealth.
The MLSC’s partnership with BU extends beyond workforce training. In addition to supporting BRIDGES, the Center recently awarded Dr. Joyce Wong, the founder of the BRIDGES program, a $50,000 grant through its First Look Awards to advance her fallopian-tube-on-a-chip research project together with her collaborators Drs. Wendy Kuohung, Robin Ingalls, and Michael Smith. Since 2008, the MLSC has invested more than $12 million in support of programs and research initiatives at the University. Additionally, the MLSC has supported 624 BU students through its internship programming, making BU one of the highest-placing academic institutions in the state.
Through strategic investments in workforce development, research, and infrastructure, the MLSC and Boston University continue to strengthen the Commonwealth’s life sciences ecosystem and prepare the next generation of innovators.
