The MLSC is proud to highlight the UMass Amherst Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS) which received a $497,230 award through our Research Equipment program to establish a core micro-patterning equipment set that will expand access to advanced biomedical engineering and translational life sciences research in Western Massachusetts.
Established in 2014 through a $95 million MLSC investment, IALS accelerates the translation of fundamental research into innovative technologies, product candidates, and services that improve human health and well-being. The institute serves as a catalyst for translational research, provides critical resources for scientific innovation, and contributes to workforce development across the local community.
Led by Dr. Hongsoo Choi, Associate Director of the Center for Bioactive Delivery and Professor of Biomedical Engineering at University of Massachusetts Amherst, the funding will equip the academic institution with state-of-the-art microfabrication tools, including a next-generation mask aligner and bond aligner system, addressing a longstanding regional gap in access to advanced cleanroom and micro-patterning capabilities.
The new equipment will replace a 20-year-old mask aligner with a Gen 4 platform featuring automated alignment and environmentally friendly UV LED exposure technology. An internationally recognized expert in biomedical micro- and nanorobotics, neural engineering, and translational medical device development, Dr. Choi will leverage these capabilities to support cutting-edge research and innovation across the region.
In addition to receiving this award for IALS, the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing at UMass Amherst recently received $500,000 through our Women’s Health Initiative to support research advancing health equity in preeclampsia.
“These MLSC awards enable the important role that shared research infrastructure plays in driving innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development,” said Peter H. Reinhart, Founding Director of the Institute for Applied Life Sciences at UMass Amherst. “By bringing advanced microfabrication and single-molecule analytical capabilities to Western Massachusetts and making them broadly accessible to academic and industry researchers, we are accelerating the translation of scientific discoveries into new technologies, products, and solutions. These investments will deepen industry engagement, expand workforce training opportunities, and further strengthen Massachusetts’ leadership in the global life sciences sector.”
Together, these awards build on more than $100 million previously invested in UMass Amherst through the MLSC’s funding programs, helping drive groundbreaking research, strengthen research infrastructure, and advance Massachusetts’ global leadership in the life sciences.
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