NEB Renews its Support to Shared Lab Space LabCentral

New England Biolabs (NEB) has confirmed the renewal of their financial support for LabCentral, the shared laboratory space for biotech startups in Boston. Both companies are commited to mentor high-potential business and research ideas in the biological sciences.

LabCentral is a research facility located in Kendall Square, Cambridge. Surrounded by a top class research environment, the biotech hub atracts spin-offs and start-ups ideated by the brightest minds to come out from renowned universities. LabCentral provides lab and office space to 100 researchers and entrepreneurs, along with administrative support, experienced laboratory staff and talks by experts in any domain of the life-sciences. The private, non-profit institution receives support from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, the MIT and other sponsors. LabCentral provides everything that was missing in a place with such concentration of budding entrepreneurs, visionaries and talented scientists. Most of these academia types lack the skills, money or structure needed to transform a business idea into the final product. LabCentral fills the gap perfectly, providing intellectual property support, business plan, low-rent space and equipment. This is crucial in the biotech sector, where the initial investment is greater than for most other businesses.

Among other goods and services provided by NEB, LabCentral startups will enjoy full access to a new on-site freezer unit called NEBnow. Researchers will be able to take any reagent or enzyme they need directly from the freezer, at any time of the day, without having to order it online and wait for its shipping and delivery.

NEB will benefit too from this collaboration. They will be allowed to do scientific presentations and provide technical support to LabCentral users. NEB will be right at the core of the Boston biotech hub, having better access than its competitors to customers and relevant information.

LabCentral Facilities and Services

LabCentral offers fully equipped lab and office space for 100 entrepreneurs, distributed in 30 lab bays in a shared lab, eight private lab suites, a kitchen and an open common space to foster interaction. Lab equipment includes autoclaves, washers, ice machines, deionized water, vacuum and gas supply, chemical hoods, cell culture facilities, centrifuges, vortex, shakers, glassware, freezers, flow cytometry, PCR, imaging station, HPLC and other machinery. All equipment maintenance and technical support is provided. Contract research organization (CRO) support is available on-site.

LabCentral is currently accepting applications. The potential users must present their project to a selection committee. In their proposal, they will have to defend their technology, management and commercial strategy.

Source: PRNewswire