DURHAM, North Carolina, July 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BioLabs North Carolina ( BioLabs NC ), part of a national network of premium coworking facilities designed to help science-based startups go further faster on limited capital investment, today announced that GSK ; Wexford Science & Technology, LLC ; and Wyrick Robbins are Cornerstone Partners. BioLabs recognized the three companies for the key role they played in helping to launch BioLabs NC.
BioLabs NC offers flexible, fully equipped, and supported wet lab and office space that enables startups to test, develop, and grow transformative technologies. BioLabs NC began operations in 2016 in leased space at the Carmichael Building, 300 N. Duke Street and currently houses leading startups including StrideBio and Element Genomics .
BioLabs NC will open this fall in its 42,000-square-foot permanent home at The Chesterfield Building, a Knowledge Community developed by Wexford Science & Technology, located at 701 W. Main Street in Durham. The North Carolina facility is part of the national BioLabs network, with locations in Cambridge, Massachusetts; San Francisco; San Diego; and a site opening in New York City − providing unrivaled access to investors, top pharmaceutical partners, and advanced lab equipment.
“Our Cornerstone Partners have helped create a tremendous opportunity to enhance North Carolina’s ability to launch companies, attract capital and talent, and solidify its reputation as a leading life-science hub,” said BioLabs NC founder Eric Linsley. “Our mission is to provide biotech entrepreneurs a fertile environment with the best infrastructure, equipment, services, and programs to enable their unfettered practice of science on day one of move-in.”
Like all BioLabs facilities, BioLabs NC will feature a glass-filled, open floor plan and inspired design that fosters interaction and collaboration. The “open lab” comprises 100 individual lab benches for use by scientists in a shared lab. Coworking office facilities include conference rooms and state-of-the-art event spaces for meetings, social and networking events, and educational programs for startups. There are also 10 private lab suites to accommodate growing companies, along with approximately 30 private offices.
GSK’s Director of Worldwide Business Development Larry DeGraaf, commented, “GSK is excited to become a Cornerstone Partner of BioLabs NC. BioLabs is uniquely positioned to fill a gap in the North Carolina biotechnology ecosystem. We look forward to partnering with BioLabs to mentor emerging life science companies and support scientific innovation in central North Carolina.”
Wexford Science & Technology Senior Director, Development Justin Parker, added, “With BioLabs NC’s commitment to fostering collaboration and accelerating entrepreneurial activity, downtown Durham’s landmark Chesterfield building will serve as the center of a vibrant life science ecosystem that attracts talent, innovation, and economic growth.”
Larry Robbins, attorney at Wyrick Robbins, explained that his firm’s decision to become a Cornerstone Partner represents an investment in the region. “BioLabs NC and its connections to national investors and pharma partners is sure to become a key to success for many early-stage life science startups in North Carolina as they move groundbreaking technologies and therapies forward,” he said.
Following a rigorous application process, up to 40 life science startups will be selected to join BioLabs NC’s community of bioinnovators in the fall. Interested scientists, entrepreneurs and life-sciences startups can start the process by visiting the BioLabs website .
About BioLabs and BioLabs NC ( www.biolabs.io twitter: @BioLabsHQ @BioLabsNC ) BioLabs is a membership-based network of shared lab facilities located in the nation’s key biotech innovation clusters, designed exclusively for high-potential, early-stage life science companies. It offers coworking environments that pair premium, fully equipped and supported lab and office space with unparalleled access to capital and industry partners. This fertile, supportive ecosystem allows nascent companies to shift their focus from startup operations to innovation so they can reach their scientific potential quickly and achieve business success. Companies can start with a single bench, and scale up as they grow. BioLabs’ founding site is in Kendall Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts, with additional locations in North Carolina; San Diego, California; and opening in New York City, BioLabs@NYULangone . Partner sites include LabCentral in Kendall Square, and QB3@953 in San Francisco, California. BioLabs NC’s state-of-the-art 42,000 square-foot facility will open this fall in Durham.
About GSK GSK – one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For further information please visit www.gsk.com .
About Wexford Science & Technology Wexford Science & Technology, LLC is a real estate company exclusively focused on partnering with universities, academic medical centers and research companies to develop vibrant, mixed-use communities. Wexford’s communities are built on a foundation of discovery, innovation and entrepreneurial activity that creates visible outcomes in the form of substantial economic growth, new and diverse jobs and community transformation. Wexford targets strategic opportunities with top-tier research universities that are directly on or contiguous to dense, urban campuses. More information about Wexford Science & Technology can be found at www.wexfordscitech.com .
About Wyrick Robbins Wyrick Robbins, a Meritas member firm, is a law firm with a unique, collaborative, entrepreneurial culture and focus on growth-oriented businesses. Over the past three decades, Wyrick Robbins has grown to become one of the largest law firms based in the Research Triangle area. Fundamental to the firm’s growth has been its commitment to providing transactional value through efficient, effective problem solving backed by high quality legal services. More information about Wyrick Robbins can be found at www.wyrick.com .
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A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/Attachm...3958bd251c
Caroline Grossman BioLabs (781) 771-5579 Caroline@biolabs.io
