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✨ Onyx Summary
MassBio CEO Kendalle Burlin O’Connell emphasized Massachusetts’s global leadership in advanced therapies and the importance of policies like Governor Maura Healey’s proposed $400 million DRIVE initiative to accelerate early-stage innovation and workforce development.
She argues that by reigniting the state’s life sciences flywheel, Massachusetts can restore momentum, attract investment, and continue delivering breakthroughs that save and improve lives worldwide.
The following is an excerpt from MassBio CEO & President Kendalle Burlin O’Connell’s op/ed in the special life sciences edition of Banker & Tradesman:
Massachusetts is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the right policies.
We lead the world in cell and gene therapy, RNA technologies and other advanced modalities. We have the brightest minds, the most daring entrepreneurs, purpose-built lab space and a state government that just renewed its commitment through a new 10-year Life Sciences Initiative.
Gov. Maura Healey’s proposed $400 million DRIVE initiative is exactly the kind of bold step we need to spur early-stage innovation and workforce development, and it deserves support from every corner of the ecosystem.
Our strength has never been just one company or one breakthrough. It’s the flywheel of talent, investors, science, infrastructure and public-private partnerships that keeps innovation turning.
Yes, the wheel has slowed. But we hold the keys to get it spinning again.
When we do, we’ll put talented employees back to work, bring investors off the sidelines, fill our lab towers and fund the science that improves and saves lives.
I still believe Massachusetts is built to deliver just that.