Gwyn Riddick of the Biotechnology Center speaks during the opening of the Wet Lab Launch Pad project in Winston-Salem.
Biotechnology Center Links
News Article Links
Source: Biotechnology Staff and News Reports
Tengion and Carolina Liquid Chemistries were heralded Dec. 17 as the first tenants chosen to occupy the much-anticipated Piedmont Triad Research Park Wet Lab Launch Pad project in downtown Winston-Salem.
Tengion, a tissue-engineering company associated with the Wake Forest University Institute for Regenerative Medicine, and Carolina Liquid, a Brea, Calif., biotech start-up developing diagnostic products, were applauded for their pioneering role during a grand opening gala featuring facility tours, speeches and a celebration of the coalition involving 31 partners that made it all possible.
The event included remarks by Ken Tindall, senior vice president of Science and Business Development for the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, and by Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines.
Landmark Project
The Wet Lab Launch Pad, a landmark project for the Research Park, provides low-cost laboratory space to start-up biotechnology firms. The space is on the first floor of the Richard H. Dean Biomedical Research Building and includes three separate labs and accompanying office spaces.
Companies applying for access to the space are selected on several criteria, including their probability of success and anticipated contribution to the Research Park. Being a part of the Research Park gives the fledgling companies access to other park resources, including other tenant companies and organizations.
History
Work on the Wet Lab Launch Pad concept began in 2005 at the request of Gwyn Riddick, director of the Piedmont Triad regional office of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center.
"The labs were needed to provide high quality, affordable, short-term office and lab space in a regional urban park to support and nurture young biotechnology enterprises to grow prosper and create jobs," Riddick said."This project is an example of how our office can be effective in bringing champions, resources and opportunities together for completion of a meaningful project that will be a biotechnology asset for the region."
Doug Edgeton, president of the Research Park, said the Wet Lab Launch Pad will give early stage start-ups the chance to participate in the many benefits of being in an urban setting while enjoying the defined development of the Research Park.
"We are excited about the opportunity this setting represents for those companies and our greater community," he said.
Bill Dean of the Research Park added, "We're able to provide the appropriate environment to help these companies grow — to get to their next stage of development — so they can expand into other space in the research park."
Randal Pool, managing principal of Stantec Consulting, headed the Wet Lab "Concept Team" to recruit builders and suppliers to help upfit the space. Kirkland of High Point agreed to provide general contracting management, in consultation with Tom Ingram of Wake Forest University Health Sciences, project manager at the research park.
Dean, Pool and Ingram continued to raise funds for the project, with a major contribution coming from Wake Forest University Health Sciences. In a community-wide effort, the City of Winston-Salem also played an important role in providing leadership and necessary funding to complete the project.
Other companies have also contributed funding or services to the project totaling $740,000.