LabCentral Ignite Awards Four Golden Tickets to Support Entrepreneurial Diversity in Biotech

Underrepresented biotech founders developing novel health solutions will gain access to LabCentral's lab space, resources and community

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LabCentral Ignite, with support from key sponsors Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb and Mission BioCapital, today announced the winners of its second annual Golden Ticket contest: Cellens, Guardian Bio, QurCan Therapeutics and Spheric Bio. The winners were unveiled at LabCentral Ignite's bioDiversity Summit & Awards, a new annual event that brings the entire biotech ecosystem together to discuss actionable areas of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the field.

The LabCentral Ignite Golden Tickets are designed to help underrepresented biotech entrepreneurs who are researching and developing high-impact solutions to human health challenges turn their ideas into reality. Four Ignite Golden Tickets were awarded in total – two to women founders and two to founders of color – and each will receive one year of advisory support and a seat at LabCentral's shared lab space in Cambridge.

"Like many other fields, the life sciences sector has historically fallen woefully short when it comes to engaging underserved individuals and communities in the academic, hands-on training and career opportunities that are generally wide open to majority populations," said Jo Viney, CEO, president and cofounder of Seismic Therapeutics, and LabCentral Ignite Golden Ticket selection committee member. "LabCentral's Ignite Golden Ticket program tackles this issue head on, going further than simply recognizing these high-potential biotech entrepreneurs by putting a full toolbox for success at their fingertips, from lab space and resources to pivotal connections with peers, industry partners, VCs and more."