July 30, 2009
Today The Forsyth Institute and its trustees announced that they have signed an agreement with Equity Office, Inc. for the long-term lease of a research facility located at 245 First Street in Cambridge, Mass. The oral-health research institute will celebrate its centennial in its new headquarters in 2010.
Forsyth is leasing 73,317 rentable square feet to accommodate its new home, which will include state-of-the-art laboratories, a new research clinic, meeting spaces and administrative offices. Dr. Ronald Newbower, Chairman of the organization’s Board stated that “the Trustees made the important decision to relocate in order to gain a top-notch scientific facility for its faculty’s work – one properly suited to our evolving mission”. Forsyth sold its present building at 140 The Fenway in Boston to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in 2007, remaining there as a tenant while completing its search for optimal physical facilities.
Despite its relocation, the organization will maintain a strong commitment to the city of Boston through its community programs including: ForsythKids, an oral health program for at-risk children which provides dental care at several elementary schools and also at Boston’s Camp Harbor View; and The Educational Outreach Program, which offers paid summer science internships to Boston Public School children.
Dr. Philip Stashenko, President and CEO of The Forsyth Institute said, “After evaluating many possibilities we found that 245 First Street was the best option for Forsyth. We are very excited about our new location, which will enable Forsyth to establish additional collaborations and thrive into its second century.” At the new facility Forsyth will conduct biomedical research in molecular biology, microbiology, immunology, skeletal biology, development biology, tissue regeneration and clinical research. Forsyth scientists are involved in a wide range of projects, including the identification of the 600 or more bacteria that inhabit the human mouth, the role of specific bacteria in causing oral diseases, and the connections between oral and systemic diseases such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, Crohn’s disease, pancreatic cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.
Originally named The Forsyth Dental Infirmary for Children, Forsyth was founded in 1910 and for its first fifty years focused primarily on the oral health needs of Boston’s disadvantaged children. Forsyth embarked on its first scientific research program in the early 1930’s, and by the 1950’s was a pioneer in discovering the relationships between nutrition and specific bacteria in causing dental decay, as well as establishing the protective effects of fluoride. Forsyth continued to expand its commitment to research since that time, and is today the world’s leading independent nonprofit research organization dedicated to oral health.
Forsyth is affiliated with Harvard University and has collaborations with universities and corporations worldwide. Forsyth is dedicated to leading in the discovery, communication and application of breakthroughs in oral disease prevention that will significantly improve the health and well-being of the nation and the world. For more information about Forsyth visit its web site at www.forsyth.org.
