Natick, MA–CEO of Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc., Dr. Michael Kauffman, joined by State Senator Karen Spilka, State Senator Richard Ross, State Representative David Linsky, Paul Joseph, President & CEO of the Metrowest Chamber of Commerce, and Angus McQuilken, Vice President for Communications & Marketing for the Massachusetts Life Science Center (MLSC) – along with representative from MassBio, founders, resident companies, and friends, celebrated the grand opening of ABI–LAB in Natick Massachusetts today.
“We founded ABI–LAB because there was a need for affordable lab space in the biotech industry” said Dr. Rafael Nir, Managing Partner of ABI–LAB. “With high lab costs around the commonwealth and the struggle that new start-ups face it was a natural endeavor that Gary Kaufman, Managing Partner of ABI–LAB, and I wanted to embark on.”
ABI–LAB offers open-lab and office space for up to 10 start-up companies. ABI–LAB provides flexible lab space, a collaborative atmosphere, mentoring for start-ups, networking opportunities, and contract lab services which include protein production, cell-culture, cell-based assays, biomarker analysis and animal studies (oncology and NASH models). ABI–LAB is planning to expand and add 8 additional suites, lab and office space by January 2017.
“ABI–LAB is not only just lab space that has dedicated and shared labs,” said Kaufman. “It is a facility that encourages and fosters collaboration between companies. We pride ourselves on helping companies find funding from investors. ABI–LAB is always searching for companies that have a promising future so we may help fund them. Our onsite services that SBH can provide will help many of our residents bring products to the market faster.”
“The biotech sector is thriving in Massachusetts, and ABI–LAB’s incubator space will allow more innovative biotech entrepreneurs to grow and thrive here in MetroWest,” said Senator Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “I look forward to continuing to work with MassBio, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center and ABI LAB to advance our local life sciences workforce and innovation economy.”
“The ABI–LAB provides a tremendous opportunity for collaborative and innovative work in the biotech industry,” said Representative David P. Linsky (D-Natick). “I am happy that their facility will be in Natick and I am looking forward to the research that will take place there, which will not only benefit the Commonwealth but the biotech industry as a whole.”
“ABI–LAB will provide much-needed space for promising early-stage companies with potential for growth and future job creation,” said Massachusetts Assistant Secretary for Economic Development Mike Kennealy. “This new facility is joining a community of more than two dozen incubators across the state that are an essential part of our life science ecosystem.”
“ABI–LAB is a great addition to the life sciences infrastructure in the MetroWest region,” said Travis McCready, President & CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center. “Life sciences incubators like ABI–LAB provide entrepreneurs with the space, services, equipment and expertise needed to start a company at a fraction of the cost it would take to set up their own lab. The addition of this space in Natick helps reinforce that every region of Massachusetts has a role to play in our life sciences ecosystem.”
