A lack of laboratory space is a sticking point that has become a barrier for young life sciences companies in the Magic City — and across the nation.
SunFire Biotechnologies and TriAltus Bioscience are just two rapidly growing companies based in Innovation Depot feeling the squeeze as they expand.
“Perhaps our needs will exceed (Innovation Depot’s) capacity and capabilities, and so by mid-year, I think we’ll be deciding whether we can grow here or look for a new site outside of the depot,” said Bob Shufflebarger, CEO of TriAltus Bioscience, in an interview last year.
Until Birmingham starts truly looking at the life sciences as a potential hub, it’s going to be losing the knowledge trained in the city, SunFire Biotechnologies co-founder Deborah Bidanset said.
And in Atlanta (and elsewhere), it’s the same story. Life science job growth often indicates a need for more lab space, which the Atlanta metro is lacking, according to an April article in the Atlanta Business Chronicle.
An area-based biotechnology company, however, is turning challenges into opportunites to provide a local solution.
Agile Biodetection is an independent clinical laboratory and biotech R&D facility, which had an initial focus on providing information regarding human health through scientific testing involving detecting pathogens. When the company’s original venture ran into some obstacles, it pivoted to turn the situation into an advantage for the Birmingham life sciences ecosystem to support biotech startups.
The company now offers small lab spaces for rent to early local biotech startups at its clinical laboratory, located at 105 Vulcan Road. At least one entrepreneur in bioscience lauded Agile’s efforts.
“Unlike web- and app-based information technology startups, innovation in the life sciences cannot typically be engendered in garages or from coffee shops,” said CerFlux Inc.’s CEO Karim Budhwani. “Specialized equipment and spaces are not vanity but vital for developing and scaling biotech and life sciences innovation. Very early stage life sciences ventures often cannot afford to build out dedicated lab space. This is where shared spaces can make a big impact both in terms of moving life-saving ideas from labs to life and in the economic impact from such translation.”
Other benefits of colocation, he added, include collaboration and resource sharing across early stage startups, programs for knowledge exchange, mentorship, networking, investment and capital showcase opportunities, which are evident at the Innovation Depot for information technology companies.
“This is precisely why other regional initiatives, including BIO Alabama and Southern Research, are committed to nurturing a biotech and life sciences innovation ecosystem,” Budhwani said.
Leverett Powell, chief operating officer and co-founder at Agile said it was difficult to find a space for the company when it was starting out.
Powell said a lot of funds are often required to convert existing spaces, such as retail or office spaces, to lab grade. That, compounded with a lack of readily available lab spaces in the Magic City, is a major obstacle for biotech startups that do not yet have the funds to make an investment in a more permanent space.
Lab equipment is also a financial hurdle. Essential equipment, such as specialized freezers can cost up to $24,000.
Agile is looking into an equipment share or an equipment re-distribution effort to help reduce this barrier.
To mitigate these challenges, startups can pay a monthly fee to Agile and receive counter space, plumbing hookups, storage space and more.
“It’s sort of a customizable solution. We have a lot of non-bolted-in laboratory cabinets and desks, and the countertops we can move around. So it’ll be anywhere from 100 square feet up to 1,200 square foot space that someone could rent, depending on what they’re doing and how much they need,” said Elizabeth Rayburn, co-owner and chief science officer at Agile.
Three spots are currently available for rent, with plans in the works to convert more of the lab into rentable space.
