BioConnects New England (BCNE) and Maine Molecular Quality Controls, Inc. (MMQCI) are excited to announce a partnership to create a robust biomanufacturing industry cluster in the New England region.
With this partnership, BioConnects New England and Maine Molecular Quality Controls, Inc. aim to promote the growth and sustainability of the life sciences industry in New England through academic excellence and strategic programming. Additionally, BioConnects New England and MMQCI agree to enhance the cross-cutting activities of at least two of the designated, coalition-member-led projects associated with promoting the biomanufacturing regional industry cluster. MMQCI also commits to attending the annual coalition meeting, hosting partners, and assisting with outreach to local communities.
“We’re very excited to announce our partnership with Maine Molecular Quality Controls, Inc.,” said Jared Auclair, Ph.D., an associate dean at Northeastern University and director of their Biopharmaceutical Analysis Training Lab and co-lead of BioConnects New England. “This organization is a wonderful fit for our coalition, and we look forward to working together toward expanding opportunities for biomanufacturing workforce development.”
“The mission behind BioConnects New England is an incredibly important initiative, and we are so glad to be a partner in this effort,” said Joan Gordon, MT (ASCP), president and co-founder of MMQCI. “We are particularly excited to help represent Maine in these goals, bringing more awareness around the vast amount of potential our region has to offer, and helping uncover the tremendous opportunities all around us.”
Through its grant challenge sponsored by the Economic Development Administration, BioConnects New England is leveraging its resources in the region to create a robust biomanufacturing industry. Massachusetts-based Northeastern University leads the coalition, which includes The Biopharmaceutical Analysis Training Laboratory at Northeastern University, The Roux Institute at Northeastern University in Portland, Maine, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, the I-195 Design & Innovation District in Providence, Rhode Island, the University of Rhode Island, and FocusMaine in Portland. The coalition will lead K-12 education and engagement activities, jumpstart prototyping and incubation facilities throughout the region, and invest in accessible start-up entrepreneurship programming.
ABOUT BIOCONNECTS NEW ENGLAND
BioConnects New England is a multi-state coalition and finalist of the Build Back Better Regional Challenge—a $1 billion program sponsored by the Economic Development Administration. Through this initiative, BioConnects New England will create a biomanufacturing cluster in the region of Massachusetts, Maine, and Rhode Island that have been historically excluded from the biotechnology industry, one of the fastest-growing sectors in New England with national importance. This coalition will connect hubs throughout New England to support existing—and establish new—biomanufacturing infrastructure as a pathway to increase employment and educational opportunities for underserved regions and populations.
ABOUT MAINE MOLECULAR QUALITY CONTROLS INC.
Maine Molecular Quality Controls Inc. designs, manufactures and markets molecular controls for use in inherited disease testing, infectious disease detection, oncology, and pharmacogenetics. As experts in quality assurance of laboratory medicine, MMQCI produces high caliber controls uniquely suited to monitor all phases of molecular testing as required by best practice and regulations. MMQCI controls provide confidence in test results, and continues to design and produce innovative, high-quality control products as needed for emerging nucleic acid technologies as they come into use by the molecular diagnostic community.
