Boston University and the Boston Medical Center received $2.3 million in grants from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center as part of more than $17 million allocated for capital projects and new equipment for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in the greater Boston area, according to a Wednesday press release from the MLSC.
“Massachusetts’ flourishing life sciences community has created opportunities and spurred economic growth in every region of the state,” said Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker in the release. “These grants from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center will further strengthen our workforce in order to meet the needs of this growing industry through enhanced training facilities and programs at our middle schools and high schools.”
The BU Business Innovation Center received $363,750 to convert current office space to laboratory space to fulfill the needs of start-ups in the biophotonic field, the release stated. BU’s Biomedical Laboratory and Clinical Sciences Program received $180,000 to “enhance the quality of the training and add to the competencies of the students,” and lastly, BU and BMC were awarded $1,740,000 for their Lung Regeneration Initiative within the Center for Regenerative Medicine.
Thomas Bifano, director of the BU Photonics Center, said he is grateful for the award from MLSC that will create laboratory space for start-up companies at the Photonics Center’s BIC.
“Such space is highly valued by innovative biophotonics technology companies and will enable them to accelerate development and commercialization of their products,” he wrote in an email. “The Photonics Center is a national leader in biophotonics research, which involves the use of light to understand biological systems and to diagnose and treat diseases.”
Thomas Dudley, the assistant director of the BU Photonics Center and managing director of the BIC, wrote the proposal for funding to the MLSC. Bifano said Dudley’s proposal highlighted some of the ways BU can “contribute to common goals.”
Bifano said the award further illustrates BIC’s successful reputation in technology transfer and job creation that produces many talented engineering and science graduates in Massachusetts.
“The award acknowledges BIC’s reputation as a leader in commercialization and innovation of biophotonic technologies,” he said. “It also reflects positively on the reputation of the BU Photonics Center, which is well-known for its exceptional research programs and is highly regarded for its capacity to translate university inventions into commercial products that benefit society.”
Samantha Hooper, a MLSC spokeswoman, said the projects given funding show potential and she looks forward to what will come as a result.
“We thought all [BU’s] projects were great. Especially for an academic institution, it’s great to have that kind of curriculum there and those opportunities for students so they can go into the work force and fill the jobs we need in our life science industry,” she said.
Constance Phillips, program director of BU’s Biomedical Laboratory and Clinical Sciences Program, said the grant shows how Boston University contributes to the Commonwealth’s life science sector and serves as a strong global leader in biotechnology.
“We are fortunate to be supported by such a competitive grant,” she said. “MLSC continues to infuse the Commonwealth with funds for programs, students and infrastructure in the life sciences. The partnerships encouraged by such support enhances the pipeline of students in the K-16 system right through to jobs and careers in this amazing sector of our economy.”
