Press Release  Governor Healey Announces More Than $5.2 Million to Expand Career Pathways in the Life Sciences

CAMBRIDGE — Governor Maura Healey and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) today announced more than $5.2 million in awards through the Pathmaker program to expand workforce training and create 439 opportunities for Massachusetts residents to prepare for careers in the life sciences.

The awards will support five training programs in Boston, Lowell, Upton, Cambridge, Bedford and Burlington, helping residents gain hands-on skills and industry experience while connecting Massachusetts life sciences employers with the workers they need to grow.

“Massachusetts leads the world in the life sciences because of our people, and we want more residents to have a chance to build a career in this growing industry,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These investments will give hundreds of people hands-on training and a clear path to good jobs, while helping our life sciences companies find the skilled workers they need to grow and succeed here in Massachusetts.”

“We’re connecting people with the skills and experience they need to step into great careers and building a workforce that meets the needs of employers across our state,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Programs like Pathmaker create more opportunities for residents, strengthen our local economies and help make sure Massachusetts continues to lead in the life sciences.”

“Massachusetts’ leadership in the life sciences is built on the strength of our workforce, and we need to ensure residents across the state have clear pathways into this innovative industry,” said Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley, Co-Chair of the MLSC Board of Directors. “These Pathmaker investments are aligning education and training programs directly to the needs of life sciences employers, giving participants the skills and hands-on experience to launch meaningful careers while helping Massachusetts companies find the talent they need to grow and compete.”

Administration officials and the MLSC announced the latest round of Pathmaker awards during an event at Just A Start in Cambridge. For more than 50 years, Just A Start has worked to expand access to housing, education and workforce development opportunities that help individuals and families achieve greater economic mobility. Its workforce programs include biotechnology training that prepares residents for careers in the life sciences.

“Building a pathway into the life sciences starts with giving people a chance to experience the industry firsthand,” said MLSC President and CEO Kirk Taylor, MD. “When a participant can step into a laboratory, work with the same equipment used in the field, and learn directly from experienced professionals, they can begin to see themselves entering a lifelong career in the ecosystem. That is the kind of opportunity Pathmaker is designed to create.”

“Massachusetts has an incredibly strong life sciences sector, but too many residents lack access and the skills to secure careers in the industry,” said  Just A Start Executive Director Carl Nagy-Koechlin. “The Pathmaker program has enabled Just A Start to expand and evolve our biotechnology training model to meet the needs of residents and the sector. We are grateful for the opportunity to continue preparing talented individuals for meaningful careers while strengthening the life sciences workforce across the Commonwealth.”

As part of this effort, Just A Start is partnering with the Institute for Protein Innovation (IPI) to bring specialized laboratory automation training to its Pathmaker programming. IPI is a nonprofit research institute dedicated to advancing protein science and developing protein-based tools and resources that accelerate biological research. Through a Post-secondary Education and Training grant of nearly $83,000 from the MLSC’s Education and Workforce Development Grant Program, the partners will integrate automated liquid handling equipment and training into Just A Start’s existing Biotechnology Careers Training programs, including its nine-month program and accelerated 10-week Pathmaker program.

The partnership will serve 56 trainees annually and provide hands-on experience with applied biomedical automation workflows, including automated liquid handling protocols, preparing materials for laboratory testing, documenting experimental data and using basic scripts to control robotic processes. Industry partners, including Moderna and Opentrons Labworks Inc., will help inform curriculum and skills development, while IPI will support curriculum development and instruction. 

“Scientists have traditionally learned at the bench, working alongside experienced researchers who provide access to tools and knowledge of their fields,” said Kevin Harvey, PhD, President and CEO of IPI. “As a nonprofit research institute that combines an academic culture with industry-level automation and scaling, IPI is embracing the opportunity to extend that model beyond well-equipped laboratories and even degree programs. Through partnerships with Just a Start and other MLSC Pathmaker organizations, we want to broaden access to cutting-edge protein science and automation, and help build the next generation of scientists who are ready and confident to succeed in a rapidly changing biotech landscape.”

The Pathmaker awards announced today include:  

Bioversity, Boston & Lowell – $1,872,000 to support 156 training seats  
Bioversity is a certificate program designed to provide Boston and Lowell residents, 18 years and older, who have a high school diploma or GED, with a hands-on, in-person training in the technical and soft skills necessary to be hired upon graduation into entry-level scientific operations roles (e.g. lab operations, facilities, and environmental health and safety) at local life sciences companies.

Blackstone Valley Technical Institute, Upton – $124,320 to support 12 training seats  
Blackstone Valley Technical Institute’s eight-week biomanufacturing training provides participants with an introduction to the industry and the technical skills needed to pursue careers in the field. Participants will earn industry certifications and connect with industry leaders while developing the skills and knowledge needed to pursue employment in biomanufacturing.

Just A Start, Cambridge – $588,657 to support 49 training seats 
The Biotechnology Career Accelerator program (BCAP) builds on more than 30 years of experience from Just A Start’s Adult Career Training program with an intensive, 10-week training model designed to accelerate entry into lab support and biomanufacturing careers. Participants develop industry-relevant technical skills through classroom and hands-on laboratory training using industry-standard equipment, while also receiving career development and employment support.

Middlesex Community College, Bedford – $2,179,977 to support 169 training seats Middlesex Community College (MCC) is home to one of the first state-of-the-art good manufacturing practice training facilities in Massachusetts and provides students with hands-on experience that directly aligns with industry standards and employer needs. 

Northeastern University, Burlington – $500,000 to support 53 training seats  
The program at Northeastern University’s Biopharmaceutical Analysis & Training Lab (BATL) facility provides training in the key areas of protein therapeutic manufacturing and cell/gene therapy manufacturing. Participants will learn the basics of manufacturing these products with an emphasis on current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). 

The MLSC launched the Pathmaker program in June 2023. The program aims to accelerate life science career entry by condensing training program timelines, harmonizing core competencies to create alignment between industry and training providers, branding training programs to signal to companies that these programs are producing ready-to-hire candidates for entry-level roles, and expanding outreach about training/career opportunities with a strong focus on targeting underrepresented communities. To date, Pathmaker has awarded nearly $19 million and created over 1,690 training opportunities.

About the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center

The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) is a quasi-public economic development investment agency dedicated to supporting the growth and development of the life sciences in Massachusetts, home to the most verdant and productive life sciences ecosystem in the world. Through public-private funding initiatives, the MLSC supports innovation, research and development, commercialization, and manufacturing activities in the fields of biopharma, medical device, diagnostics and digital health. Since 2008, the MLSC has strategically deployed more than $1.1 billion in Massachusetts, through a combination of grants, loans, capital infrastructure investments, tax incentives and workforce development programs. These investments have created thousands of jobs and propelled the development of new therapies, devices and scientific advancements that are improving patient health and well-being in Massachusetts and beyond.

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