BURLINGTON, MA (NOVEMBER 21, 2025) – Carolyn Kirk, CEO of Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech), and Kirk Taylor, M.D., president and CEO of Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, explored ways in which the region is shaping the next wave of AI-life sciences innovation during a recent “Fireside Chat” held at Northeastern University’s Innovation Campus. The November 12th event was sponsored by CallaBio Solutions in collaboration with the Northeastern University Innovation Center, the Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center.
With Massachusetts currently positioning itself as a global leader in applied AI for the life sciences and healthcare, the 90-minute exchange focused on a wide range of topics, including AI-powered biotech startups, funding and tax incentives to foster job creation and innovation, and the importance of cross-sector partnerships between government, academia, and industry to scale AI innovations across healthcare and biotech.
Discussion also turned to AI’s role in improving patient-centered healthcare applications and the imperative to build a pipeline of skilled workers who can bridge AI and the life sciences.
The “Fireside Chat” discussion was moderated by Dr. Jared Auclair, Dean of the College of Professional Studies, director of bioinnovation and partnerships at Northeastern University, and co-lead of BioConnects New England, and Dina Wassaf, Ph.D., founder and president of CallaBio Solutions.
Carolyn Kirk has served as CEO of MassTech since February of 2019, earning a reputation as a strong advocate for the Commonwealth’s technology and innovation sector through robust collaborative partnerships.
Kirk Taylor, MD was appointed president and CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center by the Healey-Driscoll Administration in October of 2024. Dr. Kirk is widely recognized for his leadership in biopharma and impact on the industry.
About BioConnects New England
BioConnects New England (BCNE) is a multi-state coalition committed to expanding access, education, and opportunity across the biotechnology sector in Massachusetts, Maine, and Rhode Island. With a mission to transform New England into a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient biomanufacturing hub, BCNE is bridging regional gaps and cultivating a future-ready workforce to empower and drive the next generation of biotech innovation.
Launched through a Phase 1 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge in 2021, BCNE is focused on strengthening existing biomanufacturing infrastructure and establishing new pathways to increase employment and educational opportunities. These efforts are aimed at underserved regions and populations that have historically been excluded from the biotechnology industry – one of New England’s fastest-growing sectors with national significance.
Now in its fifth year, BioConnects New England continues to expand its reach and impact, with more than 40 partnerships across the Northeast helping to fuel its vision for a more connected and inclusive biotech ecosystem.
