Biotech wet lab gets grant, match; lab is 'open for business'

By: Richard Craver | JOURNAL REPORTER
Published: April 08, 2009

A wet laboratory at Piedmont Triad Research Park could be poised to make a bigger splash in the state's biotechnology sector because of a $70,578 grant from the N.C. Biotechnology Center.

The grant, along with $35,739 in matching money from the Wake Forest University Babcock Demon Incubator, will enable the lab to double the number of startup biotech companies it serves to six. The current tenants are Creative Bioreactor Design Inc., Mimesis and Salzburg Therapeutics Inc.

The grant provides the Babcock incubator with money to upgrade the wet lab, with the core lab equipment shared by multiple users.

Wet labs have exhaust systems, hoods and plumbing, such as acid-resistant pipes, designed to deal with chemicals that biotechnology companies might use.

"We are now open for business for inception-stage companies," said Tom Clarkson, the director of the Babcock incubator.

"We have a facility designed specifically for biotechnology and bioscience ventures that is fully equipped with anything a young company might need to develop business plans, validate scientific research, complete proof-of-concept or test a final product offering."

Park officials said that the main goal of the incubator wet lab has been to help "satisfy the regional need" for early stage new-venture efforts in biotechnology, bioscience and nantotechnology, which is the study of items at the microscopic level.

Companies and entrepreneurs will be considered "on the commercial viability of the idea, the potential for high growth and the likelihood of success of the venture," according to incubator officials.

Clarkson said that the expanded wet-lab space should be available by the end of the month. The continuing cost of the new space will be paid for through the incubator's operating budget.

"Incubators are essential to developing entrepreneurs, to help them commercialize innovation from the lab to the marketplace," said Gwyn Riddick, the regional director of the state biotechnology center.

Some incubator tenants could become candidates for the Wet Lab Launch Pad at the park, which is geared toward biotechnology companies further along in development but still in need of lower-cost space.

■ Richard Craver can be reached at 727-7376 or at rcraver@wsjournal.com.