BioFabrication Cluster
Coalition Lead: City of Manchester, New Hampshire
Phase 2 Award: $44 million
Private Investment (Sept. 2022 – Sept. 2024): $82.9 million
Additional Public and Nonprofit Funding (Sept. 2022 – Sept. 2024): $3.8 million
Project Description: The BioFabrication Cluster is utilizing a $44 million BBBRC grant to establish the region as the global epicenter for the production and distribution of regenerative tissues and organs. Bringing engineered cells, tissues, and ultimately organs to patients will revolutionize healthcare, saving lives and reducing healthcare costs, while ensuring that the region realizes economic benefits. The BBBRC funding builds on foundational investments from the U.S. Department of Defense, complementing other federal resources by ensuring that benefits from cluster growth are directed to underserved communities in Southern New Hampshire.
The coalition brings together regional partners such as the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute, Southern New Hampshire University, and the city of Manchester.
As of September 2024, the coalition has made significant strides in achieving its vision of advancing a local regenerative medicine hub:
- To build a biofabrication workforce of the future, the coalition is increasing collaboration between its regional universities, community colleges, and industry partners by preparing programs for launch and community engagement. Notably, the internship program funded through the workforce development project has already started paying dividends, and the first hire of an intern was made earlier in 2024.
- The coalition has made progress in accelerating the growth of its startup portfolio companies and building awareness for follow-on private investors for non-dilutive funding opportunities by hosting the inaugural BioFab Startup Lab Investment Summit in October 2023 and generating additional momentum for commercialization through ongoing engagement.
- In order to address structural transportation barriers to education and employment, the coalition partnered with the Volpe Center to create a nearly completed Manchester Biofabrication Cluster Transportation Equity Study. The study, which will be complete by 2025 and is informed by local research gathered by Deo Mwano Consultancy, will provide recommendations and implementation guides on lessening the reliance on privately owned vehicles as the sole access to good paying jobs.
- The ReGen Valley Tech Hub consortium in the region was awarded approximately $44 million as part Phase 2 of the new Tech Hubs Program to develop a globally competitive regenerative medicine cluster in New Hampshire.
Coalition Overarching Narrative (applicant submitted) (PDF)
“The goal of this funding is to make Manchester the epicenter of the biofabrication industry, and it builds on previous federal investments in ARMI | BioFab USA. … To make sure residents are not left behind as the industry grows, the largest programmatic funding is allocated to removing barriers and providing pathways to good-paying jobs to local workers.”
BioFabrication Cluster
Related Links
In the News
- Biotech Boom: The Manchester Millyard is becoming a global hotspot for making human tissue and organs
- ReGen Valley to receive $44 million through federal Tech Hubs program Manchester biofabrication effort among 12 regions part of $500 million investment
- Federal grant aims to boost Manchester's regenerative manufacturing industry
- Creating a biofab hub in Manchester has to be a community effort, Kamen says
- Officials tout $44m federal investment in N.H. biotech industry
Additional Designations Earned in Region
