Montgomery County, Md., Oct. 18 2024 – The opening of the Biohealth Hub @ Greencourt Innovation Center (“Biohealth Hub”) was celebrated with a special ceremony that brought together public officials, a diverse group of innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, community leaders, and stakeholders from Maryland’s life sciences and biotechnologies community. The event marked a significant milestone with the Biohealth Hub set to play a central role in advancing biotechnology innovation, and breakthroughs and driving economic growth.

Co-founder Bei Ma delivered the opening remarks, expressing her excitement about the hub’s launch and its mission to transform the life sciences landscape in the region. “It’s an honor to welcome you all to the opening of the Biohealth Hub,” said Ma. “Today’s opening is a significant step in powering the next generation of entrepreneurs who will shape the future of medicine. At Biohealth Hub, our mission is clear: to provide unparalleled access to the key resources that drive success—capital, talent, and state-of-the-art lab space.” She outlined the vision for the hub as the “easy button” for life sciences companies, facilitating seamless connections to funding, expertise, talent, and facilities to accelerate innovation.

Following Bei Ma’s remarks, Secretary of State, Susan Lee, congratulated the Biohealth Hub in its launching at Greencourt Innovation Center, where co-founders Stephany Yu and Bei Ma hosted an inspiring evening of innovation, collaboration, and celebration in the life sciences community.

Secretary Lee highlighted the crucial role that life sciences and biotechnologies play in Maryland’s economy and its growing reputation as a hub for scientific excellence. “Maryland’s biohealth industry is not just a vital part of our economy, but also a source of breakthroughs that will improve lives around the world. This new Hub will create an ecosystem where startups, researchers, and established companies can work side by side to tackle some of the most pressing health challenges of our time,” she continued. Secretary Lee concluded by expressing optimism about the future impact of the Biohealth Hub. “The journey of transforming ideas into life-changing solutions requires not only expertise but also an ecosystem that nurtures creativity and accelerates growth. With the launch of the Biohealth Hub, we are taking a significant step towards cultivating the next wave of biotech innovations, right here in Maryland.”

Maryland Montgomery County Executive, Marc Elrich, in his remarks, emphasized the strategic significance of the Biohealth Hub for the region’s economic development and the advancement of public health. “Montgomery County has long been a leader in life sciences, and today, with the opening of the Biohealth Hub, we’re adding another important piece to our ecosystem,” said Elrich, “with the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, and numerous biotech companies headquartered here, Montgomery County is already at the forefront of biomedical research and innovation. The Biohealth Hub will enhance our ability to attract and retain top talent and investment, further solidifying our place as a global leader in this sector.”

The event included a roundtable introduction session with representatives from government agencies, investors, life sciences companies, and professional service providers discussed the industry’s future, including:

• Bill Tompkins, President and CEO – Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC)
• Jean-luc Park, Senior Director of Social Impact Funds – Maryland TEDCO
• Cindy Rivarde, CEO – Rockville Econiomic Development Inc. (REDI)
• Richelle Wilson, Deputy Director – REDI
• Marji Graf, President & CEO – Greater Rockville Chamber of Commerce
• John Mumm, President & CEO – Deka Biosciences
• Pavel Khrimian, Co-founder & CBO – Deka Biosciences
• Roger Nakazawa, Olympia Holdings
• Vijay Lakshman, Brilliant Inc.
• Daozhan Yu, President and CEO –  AAVnerGene
• Anthony Millin, Next Chair, Partner – Shulman Rogers
• Jimmy Lu, Founder – Neomics
• Randy Xu, Co-founder and CSO – ARV Technologies

Biohealth Hub is now positioned as a central hub for Maryland’s biotechnology ecosystem, catalyzing collaboration, research, and commercialization efforts. With its unique approach and strategic location at the Greencourt Innovation Center, the hub is set to attract top talent, investment, and cutting-edge research to the region.

About Biohealth Hub

The Biohealth Hub @ Greencourt Innovation Center is a premier innovation space dedicated to advancing life sciences and biotechnology in Maryland. The hub offers a collaborative environment where startups, researchers, and investors come together to foster growth in life sciences, biotechnologies, medical devices, and digital health. Learn more at https://biohealthhub.net/