B₊labs

What a full and exciting day we had at the B₊labs Professional Development and Career Mentoring Program last Friday! +First, we visited Drexel University School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, where the students conducted a hands-on experiment. They got to see biomedical research in action and understand how cutting-edge science can solve real-world health challenges.+ +Next, we partnered with Jacobs and AES Clean Technology to tour one of their projects for a biotech client in Center City currently under construction. While still in development, the students gained valuable insights into how architecture, engineering, and design are critical in constructing state-of-the-art facilities that will soon support the manufacturing of groundbreaking gene therapies. This tour highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in bringing advanced healthcare solutions to life.+ +Lastly, we explored Drexel University's Cognitive Neuroengineering and Quantitative Experimental Research building. The highlight was meeting Pepper the robot and discovering how virtual reality (VR) and advanced technologies are helping scientists better understand the brain. This peek into neuroengineering opened their eyes to the role technology plays in neuroscience research. A special thank you to Dr. Candida Barreto for sharing her remarkable career journey and valuable insights with the students over lunch.+ It was an inspiring day, full of discovery and deeper appreciation for the wide variety of careers connected to life sciences. We’re thrilled to keep exploring these exciting pathways with our future biotech leaders! Bob Rovinsky, Lisa Williams, Dolores Conover, KayLynn Curfman, Chad Smith, Trista Hager, MBA, Thomas Vieyra.

We are just a few weeks away from the Advanced Therapies USA event, which will bring Europe’s largest cell and gene therapy conference and exhibition, the Advanced Therapies Congress, to Philadelphia! This event is designed for the leaders of the world’s ATMP developers and their senior executives who are in charge of the latest technologies and strategies driving the industry forward. We hope to see you there!

Excited to watch this approach led by a great team and a Phila. presence: https://lnkd.in/ejpvVD-i Congrats to all involved here.

Week 3 of the B₊labs Professional Development & Career Mentoring Program is in the books! In this week's session, our talented cohort of high school students made significant strides in preparing for their future careers. They focused on three essential skills: crafting standout resumes, perfecting interview techniques through mock interviews, and developing professional LinkedIn profiles. A HUGE thank you to our incredible volunteers from various B₊labs resident companies as well as Philadelphia Works, Inc., Drexel University College of Medicine, Mispro, Nafees Innovations, Merck, Nucleate Philly, and more who spent their day mentoring and guiding the students. Your expertise and dedication are helping shape the next generation of life science professionals. We couldn’t do this without you! Jessica Pierre-Louis, Mary Genevieve Carty, LaRhonda Green, SHRM-SCP, Amanda Hopkins, Nafees Norris, Robert Trudeau, Roderick (Ricky) Brathwaite, MS, Sabrina Lai, Daniel Hui, Monichan H. Phay, Kyle Thomas Webb, Lia Kwee Isaac, Anthipi Paxinos, MHA, Isaiah Alvarez, Matthew Burkhardt.

Last Friday, our B₊labs Professional Development + Career Mentoring students had an exciting visit to the de la Fuente Lab at the University of Pennsylvania. They gained firsthand insight into the groundbreaking research being conducted there and had the opportunity to engage with the talented lab members. The #delaFuenteLab is made up of a diverse, transdisciplinary team that includes computer scientists, engineers, chemists, biologists, and other specialists. Their mission is to leverage technology to accelerate discoveries in biology and medicine, showcasing how innovation can transform our understanding of life sciences. This experience offers immense value to our students, inspiring them while illustrating the critical role of collaboration in promoting future scientific progress. We are deeply grateful to César de la Fuente, PhD, and the entire #delaFuenteLab team for warmly welcoming our students and sharing their expertise. This exposure to real-world science is crucial for inspiring the next generation of innovators and opening doors for their futures. Thank you for your generosity and for supporting our mission to nurture these future scientists!

Lots of Phila. news today: . Congrats to Franklin Biolabs: https://lnkd.in/eAkEXT-r . Congrats to Proscia: https://lnkd.in/e7PC-sVj . Congrats to Legend Biotech: https://lnkd.in/eH37FQwh (shoutout to Fierce Biotech for the Philly coverage)

Happiest of Fridays, B₊uzzers!   Thank you for following along with me this week!   As we wrap up the B₊labs BioBuzz takeover, we want to highlight the importance of the patient voice in drug discovery and development. Often, researchers don’t have direct exposure to the patients their work is meant to benefit. That’s why we partnered with the Emily Whitehead Foundation to bring this essential perspective into our space. We’re proud to showcase photography by Emily Whitehead, the first pediatric patient to receive Philadelphia’s landmark CAR-T therapy, alongside “Warrior Art” created by pediatric patients currently undergoing the same treatments. These pieces serve as a daily reminder of the lives we’re striving to change and impact. In a field where it’s easy to get caught up in molecular structures, QA/QC tests, and regulatory requirements, we hope this art acts as an anchor for our residents, reconnecting them to the heart of their work. TONIGHT is particularly special as we are also sponsors of the Emily Whitehead Foundation Believe Ball, where I’m proud to be part of the volunteer committee. We’re excited to support this event and further the conversation around patient-centered care. Together, we can expand this focus beyond CAR-T and oncology, reinforcing our commitment to making life sciences more meaningful for everyone involved. Even if you didn’t get tickets to join us tonight, you can still support the foundation by bidding on exclusive items and experiences. Bidding closes tonight at 9:45 PM EST. Place your bids now! https://lnkd.in/etKy33v4   Crisbel Baez signing off, until next time!

Love seeing this from Philadelphia's own Capstan Therapeutics: https://lnkd.in/eWPweYbX Congrats to the Capstan team. Go Philadelphia Phillies.

Happy Thursday, B₊uzzers! Today, we’re excited to share more about who we are and the innovation driving B₊labs forward. B₊labs, a partnership between Brandywine Realty Trust and the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center, continues to foster life science innovation by providing cutting-edge spaces and programs for life science startups at Cira Centre. This partnership merges PABC’s success in generating over $7.3 billion in economic impact and delivering multiple drugs to patients with Brandywine’s expertise in developing world-class operating environments. Together, we are accelerating breakthroughs in Philadelphia’s life science ecosystem, exemplified by the success of companies and pipelines such as: 💡 Capstan Therapeutics, a spinout from the University of Pennsylvania, which successfully raised $102 million in Series A funding in September 2022; 💡 Tmunity, a biotech company founded by Carl June, which was acquired by Kite Pharma, a leader in cell therapy and a subsidiary of Gilead Sciences; 💡 clinical-stage programs across multiple disease areas developed by companies in our space; 💡 emerging programs leveraging Academic Innovation Zone grants via the Commonwealth to drive cutting-edge research and commercialization. Want to learn more about our operations? Reach out and let's connect!

Hello again, B₊uzzers! On this third day of our BioBuzz takeover, we’re thrilled to share that we kicked off our second cohort for the B₊labs Professional Development and Career Mentoring program last Friday! This program gives high school students an in-depth look at careers in biotechnology through interactive workshops, site visits, and networking opportunities. After welcoming our first cohort from Dobbins AVT High School last year, we’re excited to include students from the Roxborough High School program this year as well. Diversifying the workforce and preparing Philadelphians for rewarding careers in the life sciences is important to us. We prioritize making this field more accessible and inclusive by working closely with The School District of Philadelphia and other partners to serve as a valuable resource for the next generation. A huge thanks to program sponsors, the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center and Brandywine Realty Trust, as well as the various industry partners who make this experience possible for the students. We also want to recognize the B₊labs residents who have generously volunteered as mentors, offering their time and expertise to support these future scientists. If you’re interested in becoming involved with our program, we’d love to hear from you—reach out and help us shape the next generation of innovators!