Open Cell, biotech start-up platform based in London prepares to launch a biolab to offer affordable spaces to early-stage innovators and entrepreneurs. The project is a joint venture including regeneration specialist U+I, biotech accelerator SynbiCITE, and the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.
Based at the Old Laundry Yard in Shepherd’s Bush Market, the initiative is a first for London. Phase one will provide 20 start-up studios in shipping containers, in which innovators and entrepreneurs can build, test and demonstrate biotech-focused developments.
Co-founder Helene Steiner conceived the idea for Open Cell while working in Microsoft Research and also moonlighting as a lecturer in the Royal College of Art. She was teaching biodesign alongside Dr Thomas Meany who was working in the Biotechnology Dept. of Cambridge University. They saw talented students with incredible ideas but nowhere to develop them.
“There is little or no infrastructure available to help talented scientists, designers and early-stage biotech businesses to take their concepts to the next stage. Open Cell is a meeting place for anyone in the sciences or design disciplines to contribute to the burgeoning biotech sector in London. We are delighted U+I embraces our vision and is providing space for our first hub," Steiner explains.
The offering comprises 10 containers dedicated to a BSL1-2 space. A typical container (140 sq ft) will have a laminar air flow hood, microcentrifuge, thermocycler, ancillary equipment, bench space (~10 sq ft) and storage space. Key infrastructure items will be shared across containers and will include low temperature storage, autoclave, ultracentrifuge, microscopy.
Old Laundry Yard launched earlier this year and is already home to a number of food and drink businesses.
