FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Jessica Martin Eckerly
CEO and Co-Founder
Forward BIOLABS
[email protected]
11/28/2023

Forward BIOLABS Recognizes Distinguished Experts on its Advisory Board

Madison, Wisconsin – Forward BIOLABS, a leading biotechnology co-working laboratory and innovation hub, is recognizing the 22 esteemed leaders on its Advisory Board. These accomplished Advisors bring a wealth of experience in entrepreneurship and innovation across a range of industries, further strengthening Forward BIOLABS' commitment to accelerating startup development and growth, particularly in biohealth and other sciences.

Members of the Advisory Board are:

Key Advisors:

• Amit Acharya, Chief Research Officer and System Vice President, Advocate Aurora Health
• Kathy Collins, Emeritus Vice President of Economic Development, Madison Region Economic Partnership (MadREP)
• Cynthia Czajkowski, Interim Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education and Professor, UWMadison
• Jason Fields, President and CEO, Madison Region Economic Partnership (MadREP)
• Aaron Hagar, Vice President of Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Sector Strategy Development, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC)
• Charles Hoslet, Vice Chancellor for University Relations, UW-Madison
• Ed Javier, Director, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC)
• Christopher Kozina, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Senior Advisor – Industry Engagement, UW-Madison
• Sara Mann, Vice President, Commercial Excellence/General Manager - North America Branch, Promega Corporation
• Paul Muench, Associate Director, University Research Park (URP)
• Chorom Pak, CEO and Founder, Lynx BioSciences (LynxBio)
• Katie Rice, Venture Relations Manager, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF)
• Paul Weiss, Managing Director, Venture Investors

Forward BIOLABS was established as a 501 (c)(3) and is now the premier co-working life science laboratory in Wisconsin; providing fully equipped, maintained, and professionally managed laboratory specifically designed to meet the needs of startup companies. The robust and comprehensive offering includes numerous equipment capabilities, lab infrastructure, lab services, and business amenities. Along with the Board of Directors, Advisors have played a pivotal role in Forward BIOLABS' formation and growth, providing support that enabled the incubator to build an environment where innovative biotech companies thrive.

“We are grateful for the respected and generous guidance these accomplished leaders have provided," said Jessica Martin Eckerly, CEO and Co-Founder at Forward BIOLABS. “Our Advisors and their organizations have been integral to Forward BIOLABS from the very start. Their diverse perspectives and invaluable insights will continue to be instrumental in shaping the future of Forward BIOLABS as we work together to further enhance offerings that accelerate startup growth and foster entrepreneurship in Wisconsin."

Forward BIOLABS is widely known for nurturing early-stage biotechnology startups, providing them with modern facilities, mentorship, and a community of like-minded innovators. With these Advisors, Forward BIOLABS is poised to advance this mission. “Forward BIOLABS is critical to providing early-stage life science entrepreneurs with an avenue to accelerate their companies, allowing them to utilize their investment capital on product development rather than equipment and operations. From this launching pad of Forward BIOLABS, companies are then expanding into new spaces, adding jobs, developing global partnerships, and delivering long term economic impact to Wisconsin,” said Nicolas Paris, CEO of Gilson and a Key Advisor to Forward BIOLABS. “Gilson is an international company but is headquartered in Madison and has deep roots with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, so we were excited to be part of making Forward BIOLABS happen for our community.”

Sarah Duellman, Global Strategic Business Lead in Biotech, and a Key Advisor to Forward BIOLABS added, “Promega works with incubators around the world, and we are thrilled to see that Forward BIOLABS developed best-in-class support for entrepreneurs. Based on our involvement with incubators in other entrepreneurial hubs, as well as from Promega’s own history of growth after being founded in Wisconsin, we know that a vibrant biohealth startup ecosystem is critical to our community, our industry, and to our state. We are all looking forward to continued success for Forward BIOLABS and their member startups.”

For more information about Forward BIOLABS and its Advisory Board, please visit forwardbiolabs.org.

About Forward BIOLABS:
Forward BIOLABS is a co-working incubator and entrepreneurial hub located in Madison, Wisconsin, with a mission to make it easier to start a biotech company. This goal is accomplished by providing early-stage biotech startups with a well-equipped and supported laboratory on an affordable and flexible basis, and a collaborative community of scientists, entrepreneurs, and industry experts.