Cambridge, MA — October 15, 2014 — Today the Forsyth Institute officially opened its new Salivary Diagnostics Center in Cambridge, MA. The new facility will focus its efforts on revolutionizing medical diagnostics and replacing blood-based tests with tests that use saliva. The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) awarded Forsyth a $4.2 million grant in 2013 to help develop this Center.“Massachusetts leads the world in life sciences thanks to our growth strategy of investing in education, innovation and infrastructure,” said Governor Deval Patrick. “We congratulate the Forsyth Institute on the grand opening of the Salivary Diagnostics Center and look forward to seeing the developments that come out of this groundbreaking new facility.”
“Salivary diagnostics constitute a revolutionary new direction for the early detection of human disease,” said Phil Stashenko, President & CEO of the Forsyth Institute. “Saliva contains virtually all of the same medical diagnostic information as blood, including DNA, proteins, hormones, metabolites, and immune effectors, but is obtained non-invasively and painlessly. Most salivary diagnostics studies at Forsyth involve the discovery of new biomarkers for oral as well as systemic diseases. The Center takes advantage of its access to large, carefully defined patient populations, combined with Forsyth’s longstanding expertise in oral and associated systemic diseases, and history of diagnostics development.”
“This project is a great match for the goals of the MLSC capital program, as this innovative new facility will strengthen Massachusetts’ global leadership in the life sciences community,” said Susan Windham-Bannister, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, the agency charged with implementing Governor Patrick’s 10-year, $1 billion Life Sciences Initiative. “The mission of the Forsyth Institute’s Center for Salivary Diagnostics is to be on the cutting edge of scientific research and translation in oral health and related biomedical sciences, and with the commitment of their research staff and the community I’m sure they will accomplish that goal. We are also pleased to see that our investment is helping to leverage substantial additional funding from other sources.”
About the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center: The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) is an investment agency that supports life sciences innovation, research, development and commercialization. The MLSC is charged with implementing a 10-year, $1-billion, state-funded investment initiative. These investments create jobs and support advances that improve health and well-being. The MLSC offers the nation’s most comprehensive set of incentives and collaborative programs targeted to the life sciences ecosystem. These programs propel the growth that has made Massachusetts the global leader in life sciences. The MLSC creates new models for collaboration and partners with organizations, both public and private, around the world to promote innovation in the life sciences. For more information visit www.masslifesciences.com.
