Updated: 11:57 a.m.
PROVIDENCE – In a recent e-mail, sent at the request of R.I. BioScience Leaders, MedMates asked its membership for its opinion on whether or not to have the fledgling organization consider renting lab space in a proposed state-of-the art lab building in Providence.
The rent for the lab space, according to the e-mail, would include: “utilities, permits, biowaste removal, biosafety/chemical training, shared conference rooms, office space, infrastructure such as DI water, autoclave, ice machines, vacuum and gas supply, cell culture facilities, freezers, storage facilities and access to seminars/training on topics of relevance to our community.”
Two questions posed were: “If we had beautiful, state of the art lab and conference room space in a premium location in Providence, would you move?” and “What would you be willing to pay in rent if all of the above were included?”
R.I. BioScience Leaders, a group of 24 CEOs and leaders of bioscience firms, requested the email be sent with the goal of getting the broadest cross-sector input, according to R.I. BioScience Leaders co-chair Denice Spero, a member of MedMates.
A third question, not asked, but relevant, was: what kind of organization did MedMates see itself becoming?
A recent gathering in July included a speed-dating format for networking to enabling members to get to know each other, at the same time hearing from R.I. Economic Development Director Marcel A. Valois.
Also in July, a subcommittee looked at policy and explored different ideas how best to present information to the R.I. General Assembly.
Defining the mission and the activities of the group appears to be an iterative process.
The original version of this story did not indicate that R.I. BioScience Leaders requested the email survey be sent.
I’d like to make a correction to this article. The email to MedMates members was distributed on behalf of the BioScience Leaders group managed by Denice Spero and Ed Bozzi. Both are MedMates members, but it is actually the BioSceince group that is exploring the potential need for shared lab space.
–David Goldsmith, MedMates co-founder and president