In the dynamic biotechnology and life science landscape, startups, incubators, and independent researchers are continually looking for new ways to enhance their research goals while maintaining cost efficiency. It’s a delicate balance of investing time and resources into the right places at the right time — and these decisions present a formidable task even under the best of circumstances.
In the face of so many challenges, young biotech’s have begun to turn towards avenues of collaboration, embracing the concept of shared resources and spaces. But this isn’t the only factor these organizations are considering when deciding if they have the capacity for in-house lab testing.
Hidden Costs for In-House Lab Testing
While it may seem attainable for a company to keep all of their testing in-house, that’s typically not the case when it comes to operating a wet lab safely and effectively. Unlike dry laboratories that typically focus on the applied science side of things, a wet lab is a space where biological matter is analyzed and tested via various liquids. This requires a variety of specialized equipment and resources to properly outfit a wet lab facility, and these essential and expensive pieces of equipment are often cost-prohibitive for early-stage startups who have yet to secure the level of funding necessary.
Laboratory equipment alone costs tens of thousands of dollars, or more, and that’s not to mention the fees associated with properly disposing of the hazardous waste that comes as a result of the research conducted. Handling the different types of waste created by a lab is a dangerous and expensive problem to deal with properly including having to consider hiring safety personnel, a waste disposal service, and more, which then increases costs across the board.
That’s not to mention the other essential elements of a wet lab facility, such as ensuring proper laboratory safety operations, hiring expert personnel to run the tests and maintain the equipment, and ensuring safety and compliance within the lab — in the end, bringing things in-house is often not feasible for most startup companies.
The Benefits of Using a Shared Wet Lab Space
A shared wet lab incubator offers companies of all stages and sizes access to the necessary equipment, resources, and amenities required to conduct life science research — all without the immense overhead cost associated with doing so in-house.
By sharing a lab space, these costs are distributed among multiple users and offer a level of flexibility that is crucial in the startup world.
Beyond the benefits of leveraging expensive equipment, additional resources and amenities are also things to consider when choosing lab space. Some collective facilities act as a hub for innovation and collaboration. Being surrounded by a community of like-minded individuals, colleagues, and mentors, startups are bolstered by a symbiotic ecosystem that promotes conversation and fosters new ideas.
For shared facilities located near a research university location, there’s an additional benefit to draw from these nearby resources and information that is tied to the university itself. This level of access can be essential to the success of a startup or incubator
Join HistoSpring’s Shared Wet Laboratory Space
HistoSpring offers affordable, flexible, and collaborative wet lab space that is open for use to academic researchers, incubators, startups, and companies of various sizes within the life sciences space. Companies also have the ability to scale up without worrying about potential relocation or resource allocation issues down the road.
Here, companies have access to a variety of highly specialized, top-of-the-line laboratory equipment and resources without the hefty price tag. Plus, researchers and companies also have direct access to industry experts who can help them navigate through various regulatory and compliance concerns.
Located in a gateway city and near multiple New England colleges and universities, HistoSpring’s wet lab facility has developed strong academic partnerships with UMass Amherst and Baystate Health for access to specialty resources such as histology services, histochemistry specialty stains, immunostaining, Laser Capture Microdissection (LCM), and pathology services.
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