In Fall 2018, Forward BIOLABS took its first steps, opening a pilot lab operating out of WiCell. This initial endeavor laid the groundwork for the establishment of an independent facility in University Research Park in early 2019. With the support of founding partners like Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, Promega, URP, Madison Gas and Electric, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, and others, Forward BIOLABS completed a remodel and expansion of its facility in Fall 2019, solidifying its position as a cornerstone of Wisconsin’s biohealth ecosystem.
At the heart of Forward BIOLABS is CEO and Co-Founder, Jessica Martin Eckerly, whose visionary leadership has guided the organization from its inception. With a background in bringing academic discoveries to market, Jessica saw an opportunity to create a valuable asset for the bioscience startup ecosystem. Her dedication, along with the efforts of her team, Michael Polewski, Bianca Fung, and Laura Kaiser, has been instrumental in shaping Forward BIOLABS into what it is today.
Read more here: https://www.bioforward.org/2024/03/05/forward-biolabs-a-journey-of-innovation-and-growth/