2024 Impact Report

Community,
the Catalyst

In 2024, LabCentral’s community-centric initiatives reinforced what we’ve always believed—science is at its best when fueled by collaboration, creativity, and a welcoming culture for all. Whether through structured programming like Ignite or spontaneous connections at an art reception, LabCentral is a place where positive collisions lead to extraordinary innovation. With over 11,500 visitors across our sites this year, the energy and exchange of ideas within our spaces continue to grow, expanding the reach and impact of our ecosystem. 

Events by the Numbers 

Our carefully curated events created opportunities for founders, scientists, investors, community members and industry leaders to share knowledge, form partnerships, and challenge the status quo in biotech. These events span in-depth scientific discussions to science-inspired art exhibits. 

300+
Events 
13,000
Attendees engaged across events 

Event Spotlights 

  • 2nd Annual Partnership Summit
  • 2nd Annual WHAT'S NEXT Leadership Summit
  • Leading the Way with J&J: Spotlight on Oncology
  • STEM in Full Color Expo 
  • Mind Matters Science Symposium
  • The Dish LIVE–Featuring George Church
  • 4th Annual Cultural Celebration
  • Orange Odyssey - Celebrating a Decade of Impact 

Gallery 1832

Where Science and Art Intersect 

Gallery 1832 is woven into the fabric of LabCentral’s active scientific spaces, transforming our hallways and communal areas into immersive exhibits that bridge the worlds of art and science. Through rotating exhibitions, public receptions, and artist collaborations, the gallery provides a platform for scientists, artists, and the broader community to explore new perspectives and spark dialogue in unexpected places. 

8 Exhibits 14 Featured artists + 1 nonprofit organization (RB1) 
RBI 4

Gallery 1832 Exhibit Spotlights

A young girl with retinoblastoma is held by her smiling mother at LabCentral's Gallery 1832, standing in front of paintings featuring eyes as the central subject.

RB1: The Science of Eyes

Presented by the Art for Eyes collective, this exhibit raised awareness for childhood eye cancer (Retinoblastoma) and provided financial aid for children needing prosthetic eyes. Each piece featured an eye, symbolizing the vision for a better future for these young survivors. 

Photographer Al Weems and artists Ibrahim Ali Salaam and Heather Karp, sit on a panel at LabCentral's Gallery 1832.

Art of the Brain

Featuring photographer Al Weems and artists Ibrahim Ali Salaam and Heather Karp, this exhibit explored personal experiences with Parkinson’s, Lewy Body Dementia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and Body Dysmorphia Disorder. A dual-panel discussion included experts such as Barbara Tate (Friedreich Ataxia Research Alliance), Warren Hirst (DaCapo Brainscience), Kasper Roet (QurAlis), and Stefan Irion (BlueRock Therapeutics). 

Artist and former lab researcher and medical illustrator, Mao Miyamoto stands proudly in front of two of her illustrations at LabCentral's Gallery 1832.

Visionary Crossings

Created by Mao Miyamoto, a former lab researcher and medical illustrator, this exhibition challenged traditional scientific visuals, offering bold interpretations of biological concepts. The exhibit was so popular, it sold out entirely! 

Heather Karp Artist Lab Central Gallery 1832

"It is my honor that one of my paintings will be living within the walls of an organization that gave me such a unique opportunity to be seen and heard. To sit among such curious minds and share my story about what it REALLY means to live with OCD was a gift so permanent and life changing."

Heather Karp, Artist
5 F5 A2887
Celebrating a Generous Art Donation

LabCentral now showcases a stunning collection by artist Marie Anthony, gifted anonymously by a generous benefactor. Centered on community and innovation, these pieces celebrate connection and shared experiences—reflecting the collaborative spirit of our ecosystem.

This donation strengthens Gallery 1832’s mission to challenge perspectives, spark dialogue, and amplify local artists. Anthony’s layered compositions play with form and color, blending the familiar with the unexpected to invite curiosity and imaginative interpretation.

Social Impact

Creating Opportunity, Fostering Connection 

At LabCentral, opportunity is meant to be shared. Our social impact programming sparks meaningful conversations, highlights unique lived experiences, and creates connections that strengthen the biotech ecosystem.

International Womens Day Lab Central 2024

Social Impact Spotlights

Sean Ellis, a Boston man wrongfully convicted and later exonerated emotionally hugs a woman during a speaking event at LabCentral.

Sean Ellis: A Journey from Injustice to Advocacy

In honor of Black History Month, we welcomed Sean Ellis, a Boston man wrongfully convicted and later exonerated after 22 years in prison, for a powerful conversation on justice, resilience, and change. 

Five smiling panel members stand in front of a large monitor at LabCentral that reads "Innovation Without Borders."

Innovation Without Borders

A panel discussion on the vital role of immigrant founders in biotech, featuring leaders from Flagship Pioneering, Matrisome Bio, and moderated by Julien L. Pham, MD, MPH (3CC Third Culture Capital).

Giselle Byrd TTO ED 19

When I first walked into LabCentral for a tour with Shazia Mir, I was immediately at ease.  From Shazia's gentle, caring presence, the art galleries filled with works curated and created by women, to the kind and courteous staff, it was the complete opposite of a sterile, stale environment one would imagine of any place with the word 'lab' in it. 

Giselle Byrd, Executive Director, The Theatre Offensive

Ignite: Expanding Pathways

LabCentral Ignite is dedicated to broadening access and ensuring that great ideas and talent can thrive, regardless of background or resources. By improving the balance of exposure and opportunity in communities, Ignite’s programs help biotech entrepreneurs secure funding, connect job seekers with meaningful careers, and expand the industry’s talent pipeline. In 2024, we deepened our impact—supporting founders as they scaled, connecting individuals with career-defining opportunities, and strengthening the LabCentral network as a force for growth. 

$895K In sponsorship & grant funding secured for workforce development and community programs in 2024  1,275+ Individuals engaged through Ignite programs in 2024 
Career Forge Science

Ignite Golden Tickets

A Launchpad for Biotech Entrepreneurs 

The LabCentral Ignite Golden Ticket is a fully immersive program designed to equip biotech entrepreneurs with the resources, mentorship, and network needed to accelerate their company’s success. Ignite Golden Tickets are selected through a broader, all-encompassing process that supports founders who may otherwise face barriers in launching and scaling a biotech startup.

Huge congratulations to the winners—Coagulo Medical Technologies, Interon Laboratories, Inc., Lybra Bio, Nanoplex, Neoclease, and PhagePro, Inc.—who are joining LabCentral as part of the 2025 cohort!

Lab Central Ignite Golden Ticket 2024 01
6
Ignite Golden Tickets awarded in 2024 
$13.5M
Raised by Ignite Fellows in 2024
Minmin Yen Headshot Lab Central Biotech Founder

"PhagePro is about ensuring that the most vulnerable populations in the world are not left behind by innovation. We're targeting diseases that impact much of the world but don't get a lot of press here. The work we do doesn't often get many 'yeses,' so this [Ignite Golden Ticket] validation from LabCentral is huge for us and huge for people who don't have a voice. We're very grateful."

Minmin Yin, CEO & Co-Founder, PhagePro

Ignite Golden Ticket Cohort Spotlights

Neuro Bionics logo

NeuroBionics was named the 2024 Vision Award Winner at the Wilson Sonsini Medical Device Digital Health Conference and was a MedTech Innovator Grand Prize Finalist ($25K award). 

Venova Logo

Venova Technologies won the Innovation Showcase at the 2024 Women’s Health Innovation Summit. 

Career Forge Group Activity Lab Central

Career Forge

A Talent Pipeline for Biotech 

Career Forge is LabCentral Ignite’s workforce training program, designed to prepare career-ready professionals for technical roles in biotech. Participants (“Forgers”) gain hands-on lab experience, mentorship, and direct access to hiring teams within LabCentral’s network.  

In 2024, Career Forge alumni secured jobs at Avantor, BioDevek, Cellens, Eli Lilly, GC Therapeutics, Omnipulse, ThermoFisher, TreeFrog, and other companies. 

33
Forgers trained 
23
Career Forgers secured biotech jobs or pursued further education 
11
Career Forge alumni volunteered over 50 hours to support new cohorts 
Carrer Forge Lab Training Lab Central 02
Turning Internships into Careers

Career Forge piloted a hire-from-internship model to bridge the gap between training and full-time employment, equipping participants with real-world experience and direct industry connections.

15 resident companies—including Alexion, Atias, DaCapo Brain, Fletcher Bio, Inndura, Matrisome, Pearl Bio, Quantum Sky, Ribonaut, Stipple Bio, Tevard, Transcera, TreeFrog Therapeutics, and ZagBio—participated in workplace competency programming. Whether by strengthening Career Forgers’ resumes from a technical standpoint or engaging in career panels, their contributions helped prepare the next generation of biotech talent.

Special thanks to DaCapo Brain, Eppendorf, NEB, and ThermoFisher for their hands-on leadership in Career Forge technical training sessions. Their direct involvement is a testament to the power of the LabCentral ecosystem—where residents, alumni, and sponsors actively work together to advance one another’s goals.

7
Career Forgers participated in the internship-to-full-time hire pilot
6 of 7
Secured full-time biotech roles within four weeks
Arlette Cabral Research Associate Bio Devek Career Forge Lab Central 03

"Upon completing Career Forge, I had no expectations as a recent graduate. I was simply hoping it would open doors and give me the skills to pursue opportunities. I was amazed at the progress I made and the support that I received."

Arlette Cabral, Research Associate, BioDevek

Additional 2024 Ignite Highlights

What the Heck is Biotech?® 

WTHIBT Photo LabCentral

What the Heck is Biotech?® is a community-driven workshop series that demystifies the biotech industry, introducing students and adults to career pathways at all levels of education. 

2024 Impact: 

  • 28 Community workshops hosted
  • 761 Individuals engaged (368 adults, 303 high school students)
  • 30% Growth in program reach from 2023 

With grant support from the City of Boston, we expanded workshops across Mattapan, East Boston, Dorchester, and Roxbury, engaging more local residents than ever before.  

Learning Lab 

Lab Photo Learning lab LabCentral 2024

Located at LabCentral’s 700 Main Street site, the Learning Lab, sponsored by New England Biolabs, provides hands-on, in-lab learning experiences for students, educators, and community partners.

In 2024, we welcomed: 

  • 300 individuals for lab-based training
  • 5 partner organizations, including: 
    • New England Biolabs
    • MassBioEd
    • Boston Private Industry Council
    • BioBuilder
    • LEASLab Inc. 

Life Sciences in Full Color 

Life Sciences Full Color Lab Central 2024

A public education campaign designed to demystify biotech and activate new talent, Life Sciences in Full Color reached millions across Boston through digital storytelling, social media, and community events. The campaign also spotlighted the journeys of Career Forge alumni Diana Hernandez and Marissa Lemus, whose stories bring biotech career pathways to life for new audiences. 

2024 Life Sciences in Full Color Reach 

  • 3.2M+ social media ad impressions
  • 11K+ microsite visits 

Awards & Recognition

Lab Central Award Ignite 2024
  • Awarded the Biotech Week Boston DE&I Initiative Award for our multi-pronged approach to increasing access in biotech.
  • LabCentral Ignite joined the Life Science Alliance’s Training, Talent, & Awareness Advisory Council to collaborate on industry-wide workforce development efforts.