New Hampshire’s Flagship Research University Joins NH Life Sciences

Inaugural Higher Education Partnership Brings Significant Benefits to Members and the Sector

BEDFORD—NH Life Sciences (NHLS) and the University of New Hampshire (UNH) announced today a first-of-its-kind strategic partnership that will support the state’s life sciences industry ecosystem. The partnership will focus on strengthening awareness of the resources and research and development opportunities available at UNH campuses, as well as preparing the next-generation workforce through industry partnerships and talent attraction and retention.

As a leading public research institution and importer of young talent into the state, UNH is uniquely positioned to support the state’s growing life sciences sector. Significant investments in recent years at UNH’s Durham and Manchester campuses have positioned the university to deepen its partnerships with industry to meet cutting-edge research and development needs while training the next-generation workforce. These investments are ripening at a critical time for the growth of the life sciences industry and will be valuable tools for NH companies of all sizes.

“UNH plays a key role in the state’s life sciences ecosystem, supporting workforce development, conducting basic and applied research, collaborating with industry to solve their challenges, and even assisting early-stage companies access capital,” said Marian McCord, Senior Vice Provost for Research, Economic Engagement and Outreach at UNH. “We are pleased to be the inaugural higher education member of NH Life Sciences and are eager to deepen our collaborative engagement with industry in support of this growing sector of the state’s economy.”

This fall, in partnership with NHLS, UNH will host a Life Sciences Showcase to promote UNH’s capabilities and partnership pathways with NH life sciences companies to address the sector’s needs. More information on the facilities and resources that will be on display can be found below.

“As the industry prepares for growth in NH, this university-wide partnership will put a strategic focus on the life sciences— signaling to the state and the region that NH is positioning itself to be a leader in the industry and leaning into the workforce and industry’s needs to continue to attract and retain talent in NH,” said Andrea Hechavarria, President and CEO of NHLS. “The resources at UNH, especially those available to early-stage companies, will be integral to growing the life sciences ecosystem in NH.”

UNH is proud of its record of attracting business from around the globe to New Hampshire to utilize its facilities and collaborate with faculty, students and staff. UNH’s proposed Edge Innovation District is poised to play a major role in the state’s research-driven economy. UNH has identified Health and Life Sciences as one of four priority sectors for the new development, determined based on the university's strengths and the needs of the state and regional economy.

“The University of New Hampshire is a critical piece of what the State offers all employers, and particularly our life science sector,” said Taylor Caswell, commissioner of New Hampshire’s Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA). “UNH is dedicated to connecting the dots between these employers, their R&D needs, and their workforce requirements. The new partnership between NHLS and UNH demonstrates to industry that New Hampshire is dedicated to creating a value-driven environment for this sector."

NHLS and UNH will also partner to advocate and increase awareness of the life sciences industry in the state, emphasizing the critical role UNH plays as not only a resource for the industry, but a significant attractor and educator of young talent and catalyst of innovation.

UNH’s Life Sciences Showcase Day will take place on September 17, 2024. Interested parties can learn more and register at: https://innovation.unh.edu/business/unh-showcase-day-tours.

The following are some of the facilities and resources that will be on display

• Spaulding Life Sciences Center: The recently completed 130,000-square-foot renovation and expansion project has transformed the University’s home for biological sciences into a modern teaching and research facility. The addition of flexible classroom and laboratory space and upgraded equipment and technology will increase capacity in priority programs and serve as a key student recruitment tool.

• Health Sciences Simulation Center: Opened in 2021, the HSSC offers over 20,000 square feet of realistic simulation space to prepare students for the real-world clinical environment. In addition to high-fidelity simulation in the HSSC space, faculty have developed and implemented a virtual reality curriculum into the undergraduate nursing program to expand the repertoire of healthcare simulations.

• Biotechnology Innovation Center & BioLoft: Encompassing the sixth floor of UNH’s Manchester campus, the Biotechnology Innovation Center (BIC) serves as a comprehensive hub for programs that advance education, research, and engagement in the biotechnology sector, including the innovative BioLoft. Established in 2022, BioLoft is a BSL-2-rated wet lab incubator, equipped with essential laboratory apparatus and tailored support to address the needs of early-stage biotech businesses. As an integral part of the College of Professional Studies, the BIC facilitates connections between students and industry, providing invaluable real-world experience through its cutting-edge cell-culture laboratory, workforce training suites, and research laboratories. NHLS CEO Andrea Hechavarria contributes her expertise as a member of BioLoft’s advisory board. The new partnership between NHLS and UNH demonstrates to industry that New Hampshire is dedicated to creating a value-driven environment for this sector.

• Hubbard Center for Genome Studies: Established in 2001, HCGS is one of the leading genomics research centers in the country, conducting cutting-edge research in areas such as genome sequencing, environmental genomics, pathogen discovery, and bioinformatics. The HCGS provides training and education programs for students and researchers and works closely with industry to develop new genomics-based technologies and therapies.

• Instrumentation Center and Collaborative Core Wet Lab: These facilities expand access to the latest scientific instruments and techniques for researchers and industry, including imaging technologies, spectroscopy, and high-throughout -omics capabilities. By offsetting prohibitive costs related to the acquisition and maintenance of state-of-the-art equipment, the University Instrumentation Center and Collaborative CORE Wet Lab allow individuals and businesses of all sizes to conduct research, analyze samples and test products.

About New Hampshire Life Sciences (NHLS):

NHLS is New Hampshire’s first-ever statewide life sciences association built for the industry, by the industry, founded upon the common mission of improving patient lives and making the Granite State the preeminent hub for life sciences. The Granite State is home to over 600 companies in the Life Sciences, supporting 11,000 jobs. The industry contributed approximately $3 billion to NH’s gross regional product and $4.3 billion in sales in 2021.

About UNH

The University of New Hampshire inspires innovation and transforms lives in our state, nation and world. Nearly 16,000 students from 50 states and 87 countries engage with an award-winning faculty in top-ranked programs in business, engineering, law, health and human services, liberal arts and the sciences across more than 200 programs of study. A Carnegie Classification R1 institution, UNH partners with NASA, NOAA, NSF, and NIH, and received over $210 million in competitive external funding in FY23 to further explore and define the frontiers of land, sea and space.