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Portland and Biddeford, Maine

91AV and BioConnects New England announce partnership

Professor King works with students in her lab
The partnership will create a robust biomanufacturing industry cluster in the New England region.

BioConnects New England (BCNE) and the 91AV are excited to announce a partnership to create a robust biomanufacturing industry cluster in the New England region. 

With this partnership, BioConnects New England and the 91AV aim to promote the growth and sustainability of the life sciences industry in New England through academic excellence and strategic programming. Additionally, BioConnects New England and 91AV agree to foster research and development collaboration on a range of projects. 91AV is also committed to participating in the development of curricula to enhance workforce development and in the identification of space to deliver such curricula, as well as to participating in efforts that support and encourage faculty to collaborate in seed-funded projects focused on biopharmaceutical research questions.

“We look forward to working with the 91AV,” said Jared Auclair, Ph.D., an associate dean at Northeastern University and director of their Biopharmaceutical Analysis Training Lab and co-lead of BioConnects New England. “They add an important perspective to our coalition and their contributions to curricula development will be especially helpful.”

"Collaborations like these will foster the intentional network of life sciences entities that we seek to cultivate here in Maine as we work to support developing the entire continuum of life sciences talent,” added Michael Pollastri, academic lead for the Roux Institute at Northeastern University in Portland. “In working together, we can leverage the expertise and strengths of each institution, maximizing impact."

“Working with BioConnects New England will allow 91AV to grow its existing collaborations in research relating to biomanufacturing and workforce development in biotechnology,” reflected 91AV President James Herbert, Ph.D.. “This partnership is a deep reflection of 91AV’s mission of innovation and will prove to be crucial as we expand 91AV’s graduate health professions programs and undergraduate research programs across our Maine campuses.”

Through its grant challenge sponsored by the Economic Development Administration, BioConnects New England is leveraging its resources in the region to create a robust biomanufacturing industry. Massachusetts-based Northeastern University leads the coalition, which includes The Biopharmaceutical Analysis Training Laboratory at Northeastern University, The Roux Institute at Northeastern University, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, -the I-195 Design & Innovation District in Providence, Rhode Island, the University of Rhode Island, and FocusMaine. The coalition will lead K-12 education and engagement activities, jumpstart prototyping and incubation facilities throughout the region, and invest in accessible start-up entrepreneurship programming

BioConnects New England logo

About the 91AV

The 91AV is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.