BCAT News

Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll joined State Representative Ken Gordon (D- Bedford) and the Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) on July 7 to discuss state responses to the anticipated National Institute of Health (NIH) and National Sciences Foundation (NSF) budget cuts at Northeastern University’s Burlington Innovation Campus.

Moderated by Representative Gordon and BACC Government Affairs Chair Kristine Hung, the event brought together a panel of distinguished leaders including Dr. Dina Wassaf of CallaBio Solutions, Gil Stevens of Ultragenyx, Dr. Susan Moffat-Bruce of Beth Israel Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, and Dr. Jared Auclair of Northeastern University.

Lieutenant Governor Driscoll Courtesy Northeastern University

Lieutenant Governor Driscoll emphasized Massachusetts’ leadership in healthcare, education, and innovation, noting that these foundational strengths, while under pressure, remain the Commonwealth’s calling card. “Massachusetts is known as the global hub for life sciences. The conversation with Lahey Hospital, Northeastern, Ultragenyx and CallaBio Solutions held a spotlight to why, and gave us key insights for how our administration can bolster our research ecosystem while maintaining our global leadership as funding continues to be threatened,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. “I’m thankful to Representative Gordon for bringing this group together and working with our administration to support our hospitals, researchers and innovators across Massachusetts.”

In response to concerns about federal funding cuts and the impact on biotech research and workforce development, the Lieutenant Governor cited several major state-level initiatives, including the Mass Leads Act, the Affordable Homes Act, and the recently passed Fair Share Transportation Investment. These initiatives, supported by Representative Gordon, exemplify the Commonwealth’s commitment to staying competitive in the life science industry.

Representative Gordon also talked about Massachusetts’ commitment to helping our life sciences and other industries access workforce through programs that support workforce training, internships, and other assistance. When we support programs like paid family and medical leave and support our preschools and early childcare, we are also supporting the ability of young parents to return to the workforce, and helping our employers attract these young parents who may be considering options from other states or countries. Even if we must meet a challenge regarding reduced funding, there are still reasons why the most talented workers will choose Massachusetts research centers for their careers.

State Rep. Ken Gordon Courtesy Northeastern University

Representative Gordon closed by reinforcing the Commonwealth’s commitment to long-term stability and public trust. “Each administration in Massachusetts strengthens the work of the one before it,” he said. “That continuity is what makes us stable, predictable, and able to lead.” Representative Gordon thanked the Lieutenant Governor, the panelists, BACC, and Northeastern University for making the event a success.