Arizona State University and Wexford Science & Technology LLC have announced that the Phoenix Biosciences Center (PBC), a 30-acre medical education and research campus in the heart of the city, heralds the latest developments. The Growth Accelerator, a new program to help life science startups relocate or expand to Arizona, is partnered with Wexford and co-located with ASU.
Bioscience Growth Accelerator will be located at Connect Labs by Wexford 850 PBC, a 225,000-square-foot building that opened in March 2021 through a partnership between Arizona State University, Phoenix and Wexford for research and entrepreneurial activity Provide space.
Arizona State University and Wexford Science & Technology LLC announced the Bioscience Growth Accelerator, a new program to help life science startups relocate or expand to Arizona, in partnership with Wexford and in conjunction with ASU.
“Wexford has seen in other markets that sometimes these startups, especially in life sciences, struggle to get to the next step due to the high cost of lab build-out and lab equipment. The Bioscience Growth Accelerator aims to be a hub for ecosystem growth bridge,” said Kyle Jardine, Wexford vice president and head of marketing. “Bringing this program to Phoenix with Connect Labs will provide additional resources, connections and support for the city’s growing life sciences community.”
Companies accepted into the Bioscience Growth Accelerator program will receive several key benefits designed to reduce the cost of starting or expanding a company and increase access to key resources and connections. These include:
- Free lab bench and private office for three months for one year.
- Get key services like shared equipment, ASU core amenities and concierge services.
- Access to biomedical-related research, as well as academic and clinical facilities designed to advance human health and the biosciences.
Connect Labs will occupy the entire fifth floor of 850 PBC and will serve as co-working space for 15 or more life sciences companies. The Bioscience Growth Accelerator (BGA) program will also include opportunities to build professional networks, provide access to talent, and provide training for workforce development.
Sense Neuro Diagnostics is the first company to be accepted into the program. It develops non-invasive technologies that enable rapid and comprehensive detection of stroke subtypes and traumatic brain injury, as well as continuous brain injury monitoring. The Cincinnati-based company announced in August 2021 that it raised $2.43 million from the U.S. military to advance its technology in the field.
The first companies from Connect Labs will move into the space in December. Once open and fully open, Connect Labs will be home to more than 15 life sciences, health technology and other companies and will add exciting dynamics to the Phoenix Bioscience Core.
The space features core lab equipment available to all companies, private labs and offices, communal meeting spaces and amenities, and two workforce training labs from the LabForce program of the Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation.
This is Wexford’s first Connect Labs in the country, which exclusively develops and operates knowledge communities with university partners. It currently has programs with the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel Universities in Philadelphia, Washington University and the University of Missouri in St. Louis. St. Louis, and many other markets.
“We have a very unique set of real estate assets, including lab space, office space and clinical facilities that are not available in many communities,” said Aric Bopp, executive director of the ASU Economic Development and Innovation District. “We are fortunate to have a world-class development partner like Wexford, building a state-of-the-art life science and biotech space in a city as dynamic as Phoenix, and have a university focused on innovation, access and impact.”
In addition to 850 PBC, Wexford Science & Technology signed a letter of intent to develop a second and third building for ASU north of the Phoenix Bioscience Core. These future developments, which are still in the design phase, could be as high as 12 to 14 storeys and include university and private laboratory and office space. Other parts of the scheme include ample public spaces such as green spaces, a conference center and ground-floor retail.
For more information on how to apply for the Bioscience Growth Accelerator or reserve space in Connect Labs at 850 PBC, please contact Kyle Jardine at Kyle.Jardine@wexfordscitech.com or 480 779-7181.