The application period for 2026 grants will run from Oct. 20 to Feb. 23, 2026 at 5 p.m. EST.
The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) seeks to support the creation, expansion, or enhancement of life sciences education or workforce development programs/initiatives through capital and non-capital investment in industry-aligned projects. Grants are intended for large-scale and high-impact projects with several industry partnerships and private matching funds. The MLSC will prioritize funding for transformational programs that serve a significant number of learners and increase access and opportunity for underrepresented and low-income communities, such as Gateway Cities.
Applicants must be a Massachusetts legally organized not-for-profit organization, academic institution, or municipality, and education/training must occur within Massachusetts.
Gamechanger funding must be requested to enable the development and/or implementation of large-scale education and workforce training programs/initiatives. Programs must address a clearly identified gap, increase access to life sciences careers and awareness of those careers, provide transformational impact for low-income communities, and serve populations historically underrepresented in the life sciences. Funding can include operational dollars as well as Capital dollars for construction, renovation, equipment, and supplies.
The “life sciences” are defined in the MLSC’s enabling legislation as “advanced and applied sciences that expand the understanding of human physiology and have the potential to lead to medical advances or therapeutic applications.” Activities/curricula should seek to enhance skills relating to human biology/biomedical sciences, chemistry, engineering, robotics, and/or computer/data science that will prepare them for life sciences careers in sectors such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical device/technology, medical diagnostics, bioinformatics, and digital health. The MLSC is interested in supporting applicants that will further its goal of developing a skilled workforce suitable for employment in the life sciences, particularly in high-demand occupations. Successful proposals will explain how the project will create learning opportunities that are aligned with the needs of the life sciences industry.
Please refer to the Solicitation posted in the “Resources” section below for more information.
The application for 2026 grants will be available starting Oct. 20, 2025. The deadline to apply is Feb. 23, 2026 at 5 p.m. EST.
Annual Reports
Grant recipients are required to submit an annual report by June 30th of each year for three (3) consecutive years, with the first report due on June 30th of the first academic/school year during which the equipment purchased through the grant was fully utilized. The reports are to be completed using an online form to be provided by the MLSC.
Student Surveys
Grant recipients must submit results from a pre- and post-survey to be completed by students using MLSC-funded equipment.
Applicants are required to create an account prior to accessing the application. If you already have an account, please log in to begin the application.
Olaris is a precision diagnostics company that is on a mission to revolutionize how diseases are diagnosed and treated. By leveraging their CEREBRO platform (Comprehensive Early Responsive Evaluation of Biomarkers Related to Outcomes), which combines metabolomics and machine learning, they are able to harness the power of the body’s own communication system to discover and develop their pipeline of myOLARIS precision diagnostics.