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Table o
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Table of Contents Business Development
Board of Directors & Team Toward the Creation of 10,000+ Jobs Across the Commonwealth
Fiscal Year & Since Inception The Return of the Ribbon Cutting: A Year to Remember in Expansions
The Bottom Line Angel Momentum: Programming Continuing to Spur Early-Stage
Not Just a Hub, but an Ecosystem Funding
A Home-Grown Company Helping Save Lives Every Day
From the Desk of Kenn Turner Helping Industry Navigate Workforce Needs
Toward a New Level of Excellence As Companies Grows, Their Talent Must Grow With It
Where in the Commonwealth was Kenn Turner?
The Next Chapter Begins Regionalization
At The Center of It All: ‘Woomentum’ Takes Hold
Innovation Community-First: Building A STEM Workforce
MassNextGen: 5 Years of Shifting the Paradigm Transformational Opportunities, from Boston to the Berkshires
Translatable Opportunities: Massachusetts Building the Pipeline Growth Trajectory: Chen Dong’s Journey from Intern to Data Scientist at
Toward Leadership in Women’s Health Olaris, Inc.
Women's Health Initiative: By The Numbers Eye-Opening Opportunities at Boyd Tech
Investing in the Ecosystem’s Most Pressing Research and
Infrastructure Needs Appendices
The Strongest Life sciences Sector is a Diverse One
Board of Directors
The Honorable Michael J. Heffernan MLSC
Co-Chair, Secretary of Executive Office
for Administration and Finance
Designee: Catharine M. Hornby, Team
Undersecretary Executive Office for
Administration and Finance
The Honorable Mike Kennealy
Co-Chair, Secretary of the Executive
Office of Housing and Economic
Development Kenneth L. Turner Nancy T. Goryl Ryan H. Mudawar
Designee: Mark D. Fuller, Undersecretary President &CEO Senior Grants Analyst VP of Education & Workforce Programs
for Business Growth, Executive Office of Joan Abrams, Ph.D. Allyson McLaughlin Huntington Ciara Murphy
Housing and Economic Development Manager, Education & Workforce Programs General Counsel Director of Finance
Stuart Abelson Kylie Arvidson Alexis C. W. Jackson Carla Reimold, Ph.D.
CEO & Managing Partner, Ora Asset Marketing &Communications Associate Program Associate, Education & Workforce VP of Industry Strategy & Investments
Development Group, Ora, Inc. Annual Report Deputy Editor Elizabeth Kennedy Joseph P. Sullivan
Gary Paul Kearney, M.D. Henrietta Binortsor VP of Business Development & Strategy VP of Marketing, Communications, & Community
President, Longwood Urological Program Associate, Education & Workforce Jeanne LeClair Relations
Associates Richard Bourgeois Senior Director of Business Development & Workforce Pierre Saget
Marty Meehan Staff Accountant Partnerships Operations Associate
President, University of Massachusetts Peter Breiling Wayne A. Levy Cinar Efe Sumer, MSc
Designee: Julie Chen, Ph.D., Chancellor, VP of Finance Chief of Staff Program Associate, Industry Strategy & Investments
University of Massachusetts at Lowell Hawa Fall, PharmD, MBA Rosalee Maffitt Andre Terrell
Pam Randhawa, MPM Business Development Associate Manager, Industry Strategy & Investments Executive Business Administrator & Operations Manager
CEO and Founder, Empiriko Meghan E. Gerardo, MS Katya Mantrova, M.D. Ph.D.
Uciane Scarlett, Ph.D. Director of Marketing & Community Relations Director of Industry Strategy & Investments
Principal, MPM Annual Report Editor
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From the DDesk
esk
of Kenn T
Turner
urner
Toward a New Level of Excellence Make no mistake, our mission to support the preeminence
of the life sciences in Massachusetts, must continue to be
realized, to the benefit of our residents here in the
Dear Colleagues: Commonwealth and to patients around the world. From
economic development to job creation, to changing the
I write to you approaching year two at the helm of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center complexion of what our industry looks like, we have much
(MLSC). If I could describe my current state of mind after 20-plus months with one word, it to be proud of, but the work is just beginning.
would be…gratitude. Specifically, I am grateful for the honor of a lifetime to serve as
president and CEO of the MLSC. I am grateful for the multitude of external partners we What was true at the time of our founding holds true now more
have across the life sciences. I am of course grateful and indebted to my talented and than ever before—breakthrough science, which has the power
dedicated team members. to change lives and improve patient outcomes, must be matched
by bold and strategic commitment and action by government.
I am also grateful for your interest in learning more about our impact as an organization from
this past fiscal year. It is hard to encapsulate who we are and what we do into one data point or We are in the business of bold. We are ready for the next
metric, or a single publication. For me, it all comes down to our central strategy of supporting chapter of the life sciences in Massachusetts.
the discovery, development, and cultivation of the life sciences ecosystem across Massachusetts.
I hope you enjoy this year’s annual report. Please reach out
Under my leadership, the Center has implemented a strategic framework that will enable to my team and me to further engage as we endeavor to
us to reach a new level of excellence for our organization and our Commonwealth. This reach new heights.
framework has three main pillars: Innovation, Business Development, and Regionalization.
This framework lays out a robust vision. Let me assure you, I am bullish that my team and I,
along with our dynamic partners across the ecosystem, are ready to meet the moment.
Just this past year, we endeavored to begin accomplishing many of our shared goals,
running numerous programs and initiatives, representing more than $80 million. We’ve
supported more than 5,000 internship opportunities. Our Tax Incentive program is set to Kenn Turner
help create 10,000-plus jobs. And our capital programming remains the envy of the nation, President and CEO
driving innovation from Boston to the Berkshires. Massachusetts Life Sciences Center
The Next Chapter Begins decisions on its funding, leveraging the power to
collaborate and convene, and the continuation of the
Massachusetts Life Sciences Initiative.
To continue driving Massachusetts to a leadership position within life sciences, in the
spring of 2021, President Turner and the MLSC team engaged key external partners to Upon finalizing the strategic framework, President Turner
develop a strategic framework. Project objectives included: 1.) clarifying the MLSC’s core and his team began raising awareness and implementing
value proposition to help ensure the Center remains in a strong position to support the roadmap for the Center with key partners and at
economic development and job growth in the dynamic life sciences industry in significant convenings held throughout the Commonwealth.
Massachusetts and 2.) developing a succinct statement of the strategy and priorities for the This community engagement continues into the present to
MLSC’s leadership. ensure the Center’s strategic outlook is embraced and
crystalized.
In early FY22, the MLSC finalized its strategic framework process. The three key pillars of
the strategy include:
Innovation: Supporting key areas such as the next generation of technologies,
entrepreneurs, and opportunities for the Center and the Commonwealth to lead.
Business Development: Helping attract, grow, and retain life science companies, while
also raising awareness about the robustness of the Massachusetts ecosystem.
Regionalization: Prioritizing geographic equity, and leveraging regional assets of the
various life science clusters throughout the Commonwealth, and continuing to drive new
and ongoing clusters.
The foundational pieces catalyzing this framework are workforce and diversity, equity, and
inclusion, with a laser focus on leveraging the opportunity that can be offered to us in an
area such as biomanufacturing and helping companies bring their product to the market.
Finally, the Center’s efforts are underpinned by making data driven
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Inno
nnovvation
MassNextGen: Early-stage companies are the foundational
piece to the Commonwealth’s global leadership
5 Years of in the life sciences. Yet, underrepresentation
and bias toward women at all levels in the life
Shifting the sciences has real consequences not only for
individual careers but for new innovative
Paradigm therapeutics for patients.
In 2018, the MLSC launched the Massachusetts
Next Generation (MassNextGen) Initiative with Minmin Yen
one goal in mind, to shift the paradigm to build
a diverse ecosystem with equal representation. The CEO and Co-Founder of Phage Pro,
With the support from sponsors, MassNextGen worked on developing a bacteriophage
became a five year, more than $2 million product to combat household transmission
commitment to ensure greater gender parity. of cholera during her thesis research.
PhagePro was founded to both continue this
Over those five years, awardees of the program work and develop phage products for
received a year-long customized package of emerging markets. Their initial target is
support, which included non-dilutive grant cholera; by taking an oral product that offers
funding and access to a network of seasoned immediate protection, families of patients
professionals from the life sciences ecosystem infected with cholera will be able to take
helping them to refine their business strategies care of their loved ones without fear while
and effectively raise capital. In addition, the also curbing outbreaks in the community.
program fostered an organic community of Since becoming a MassNextGen awardee,
entrepreneurs where awardees could Dr. Yen has increased her full-time
collaborate with like-minded leaders sharing headcount to four employees, expanded her
experiences, ideas, and a sense of belonging. footprint at Tufts Launchpad, and raised
$3.4 million in funding. Learn more.
Ready for Who's Nexxt Thank you to our champions!
After five successful years, the MLSC knows The MLSC welcomed Mission BioCapital and
there is more to be done but with a more LabCentral Ignite as the two newest sponsors
inclusive focus. Beginning in 2023, the MLSC and of the MassNextGen program. Mission
its sponsors will launch the next five years of BioCapital will be providing $100,000 in award
MassNextGen to all entrepreneurs that identify money to one or more selected awardees.
as but not exclusive of: Female; Black, African
American, or Afro Caribbean; Hispanic, Hispanic This program would not be possible without
American, or Latinx/Latin; Indigenous, Native the support and partnerships of our coaches
American, or First Nation; Asian American, Pacific and sponsors. Your generosity has expanded
Islander, or Native Hawaiian; Transgender, opportunities for female entrepreneurs and
Queer/Non Binary, Nonconforming/Agender; their research, ultimately impacting global
Living with visible disability, Living with invisible health. On behalf of the entrepreneurs, the
disability, or Neurodiverse; Veteran. MLSC, and the entire ecosystem, thank you!
Katya Mantrova on Strengthening our Entrepreneurial Community
"Entrepreneurs are change agents that turn new ideas into successful businesses. This exciting
and risky process requires a variety of skills, experiences, and knowledge. Start-up companies
with people from different backgrounds and cultures get the diversity of thought to be
considered when brainstorming and problem-solving. A diverse team also provides a more
extensive range of experiences and skills essential to growing a business. But entrepreneurial
companies don't operate in a vacuum and need a community that understands their specific
challenges and perspectives and intentionally acts to cultivate them. Therefore, a diverse pool of
mentors, coaches and investors is imperative for entrepreneurial success. That is why our vision is
to expand the MassNextGen initiative and contribute to strengthening the Commonwealth's
Katya Mantrova, M.D., Ph.D., entrepreneurial community." Connect with Katya: Email or LinkedIn
Director of Industry Strategy and Investments
Translatable Opportunities: around women’s health. The Center
awarded $748,114 to Brigham and
Massachusetts Building the Women’s Hospital and Industry partner,
Genetech, for their research on the
Pipeline Toward Leadership in multiomic multiple sclerosis brain.
Women’s Health The First Look Awards supports early
translational research performed by faculty
and at a Massachusetts not-for-profit research
The Center launched its Women’s Health institution. The Center awarded $150,000 in
Initiative in 2020 to turn the tide against the Innovation is a foundational pillar grant funding to support three projects at
severe lack of organized capital and of our ecosystem as we remain UMass Chan Medical, Harvard University, and
incentives around a coordinated Women’s focused on providing strategic Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Health approach. With continued strategic investment toward the next
investment in this area, Massachusetts is generation of researchers, Next year, in addition to new rounds of its
poised to become the leader in the Women’s technologies, and opportunities for capital programming and First Look Awards,
Health space. The current programs offered Mas