News from the life sciences and technology sectors north of Boston |
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Back-to-school news: Boston University has completed the first phase of its $550 million renovation of Warren Towers, with Boston Business Journal reporting that the newly modernized Tower A passed safety inspections this week.
The three-year project will transform the university’s largest residence hall into an all-electric housing and dining facility, with upgrades including air conditioning, new energy-efficient windows and insulation, modernized building systems, and renovated student rooms and common areas. Towers B and C will follow, with the overall renovation expected to wrap up in 2028. Read more in Boston Business Journal. |
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Reuters recently highlighted Type One Energy (299 Washington Street, Woburn and Knoxville, TN) among the fusion companies advancing commercial technology as the U.S. prepares to implement a new regulatory framework designed specifically for fusion energy.
The proposed rules would distinguish fusion facilities from traditional nuclear fission reactors, potentially shortening licensing timelines and accelerating commercial deployment. Reuters noted that Type One Energy is among several leading fusion developers already building advanced prototypes and working with state regulators on licensing. Read more. |
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SelectScience highlighted Spear Bio (100 TradeCenter, Woburn) in its coverage of the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) last month. The feature examines the broader shift toward earlier and more accessible Alzheimer's diagnosis.
Spear Bio has unveiled new immunoassays for measuring key Alzheimer's biomarkers, as well as a fully automated platform designed to make its ultrasensitive detection technology easier to use and scale. |
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Sunflower Therapeutics (200 Boston Avenue, Medford) has received a $2 million Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to advance its continuous biomanufacturing technology.
The two-year award will support development of a fully continuous cell disruption platform designed to simplify virus-like particle (VLP) recovery, which is traditionally the dominant cost component of commercial VLP manufacturing.
Sunflower’s approach has the potential to significantly lower costs, expand access to life-saving vaccines, and enable decentralized manufacturing in small-footprint facilities worldwide. |
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In its newest blog post, ABclonal Technology (500 West Cummings Park, Woburn), explores how the NLRP3 inflammasome assembles and transitions from an inactive sensor to an active signaling complex, highlighting the roles of NEK7, ASC, and caspase-1 in driving inflammatory responses. The post explains how recent structural discoveries are deepening our understanding of inflammation and informing future therapeutic development. Read more. |
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Craig Rabe, president of First Class Networks (500 West Cummings Park, Woburn), an outsourced IT and cybersecurity firm, offers tips for companies to protect themselves when using public Wi-Fi:
• Require an always-on VPN on company laptops
• Encourage employees to use their phone's hotspot when practical
• Never approve an unexpected Microsoft login or authentication request
• Never install a browser update, security tool, or other software prompted by a hotel Wi-Fi login page
• Make public Wi-Fi security part of employee cybersecurity training
Learn more about First Class Networks here. |
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Join MassBio this week for the 2026 North Shore Regional Mixer.
The event is an opportunity to connect with coworkers, network with other life sciences professionals, and relax over drinks and appetizers.
Thursday, August 20, 5:00 - 7:00 PM, Longboards, Salem. Register. |
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Bill Cummings is honored to serve as the keynote speaker at the 2026 Real Estate Summit, presented by the Middlesex 3 Coalition and New England Real Estate Journal (NEREJ). The event will take place at Bedford Woods, the latest property acquired by Cummings and currently undergoing transformation from a single-occupant property to multi-tenant buildings.
One of the region’s premier commercial real estate events, the Summit will bring together 150–200 developers, brokers, business leaders, municipal officials, architects, engineers, and economic development professionals for a morning of networking, industry insights, and new business opportunities.
Bill will participate in a keynote conversation with Cummings chief design officer Jim Trudeau, reflecting on his decades of experience in commercial real estate, entrepreneurship, and community philanthropy. Following the keynote, Cummings vice president of leasing John Halsey will participate in a panel discussion on "Redevelopment, Redesign & Reuse," offering insights on how the company has adapted its properties to the changing commercial real estate needs of fast-growing technology sectors such as life sciences and cleantech.
Thursday, September 10, 8:30 AM - 1 PM, 174 Middlesex Turnpike, Bedford. Register. |
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North Shore Community College (NSCC) and North Shore Technology Council invite life sciences companies to a workforce development event showcasing NSCC’s new Life Sciences Center of Excellence. Designed to help address the region’s growing demand for skilled life sciences talent, the Center offers academic and training programs that prepare students for associate- and entry-level careers across the industry.
The event will feature a moderated panel discussion, refreshments, and guided tours of NSCC’s new life sciences facility, providing attendees with an opportunity to learn more about the Center, its programs, and ways to engage with the region’s emerging workforce.
Wednesday, September 16, 5:00-8:00 PM, NSCC, Danvers. Register. |
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Cummings is pleased to welcome Pressed Cafe to 900 Cummings Center in Beverly. Pressed brings its all-day menu of bold, Mediterranean-inspired flavors, offering healthy options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and anytime in between.
We are also excited to bring The Chicken & Rice Guys food truck to Cummings campuses for regular visits. Look for this popular lunch option at 48 Dunham Ridge on Tuesdays beginning August 18. The team will also stop at Sisitzky Park (between 200 and 400 West Cummings Park, Woburn) on August 25, September 8, and September 22, before opening a permanent takeout location at West Cummings Park in October. |
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Thank you to Senopsys for sharing its company news in this month's newsletter. Have an item to share? Contact Sue Howland, client engagement manager, at svh@cummings.com to suggest content for upcoming newsletters. We look forward to hearing from you. |
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