MassBio news - December 17, 2009

European biotech comes to Medford
MassBio news

The European biotechnology company Biocell Center has officially opened its North American headquarters, tissue bank and research laboratory in Medford, thanks to the cooperation and coordination of MassBio, its members and government partners.

The company, which is the only firm in the world to harvest and preserve amniotic stem cells, sought to expand its operations to serve families, medical centers and scientists in the U.S. It has other facilities in Italy and Switzerland. Company officials were joined at the ribbon cutting by Massachusetts Governor Deval L. Patrick, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center President and CEO Dr. Susan Windham-Bannister, MassBio President & CEO Robert Coughlin, and Paolo Alli, Chief of the Cabinet of Governor Formigoni in Italy’s Lombardia Region.

“Biocell Center’s decision to grow in Massachusetts highlights the strength of the cluster here in the Commonwealth and the capacity for industry stakeholders to work together to get things done,” said Coughlin, who worked with member companies DTZ FHO Partners, Sullivan & Worcester and Cummings Properties to help Biocell Center with its expansion. “We’re thrilled to have such a cutting-edge, growing, global company join the Massachusetts Supercluster.”

“Biocell Center selected Massachusetts because of its high concentration of leading medical centers and research institutions,” said Biocell Center CEO Dr. Kate Torchilin. “It’s a rich environment for establishing partnerships and advancing research in the area of amniotic stem cell cryo-banking and research.”

The company also noted plans to collaborate with leading hospitals and scientific groups in Boston and other parts of the U.S. to conduct amniotic stem cell clinical research.