In 1991, a non-profit organization called Maryland Bioprocessing Center, Inc. (now MdBio) was created as part of an initiative to enhance Maryland’s burgeoning bioscience industry and infrastructure through the construction of a state-of-the-art multi-tenant biomanufacturing facility. After raising $18,000,000 through state and federal grants and $3,000,000 in private funding, BioCenter construction commenced.
The BioCenter, a 54,000 square foot GMP facility owned by Maryland Bioprocessing Center, was completed in 1996 on land leased from the City of Baltimore just off the Johns Hopkins Bayview Research Campus. Shortly after completing construction, the non-profit negotiated a long-term lease with Bio Science Contract Production Corp (BSCP), a contract biomanufacturing company. In 2000, BSCP was sold to Cambrex Corporation, which assumed the lease on the facility. In 2007, Cambrex was sold to Lonza
With revenue from the lease payments, the non-profit organization has used its financial resources to support and promote the commercial development of bioscience in Maryland. MdBio assumed its current name in July 1997 to better reflect the organization’s focus on developing industry support programs intended to advance the growth of bioscience in Maryland. Since that time, MdBio has been instrumental in the continued growth of Maryland’s bioscience industry, providing companies with financial support, business development consulting services, cost-sharing and group purchasing opportunities, as well as education and workforce development programs.
In 2006, MdBio merged with the Tech Council of Maryland (TCM) to form TCM/MdBio. As a result of this merger, two organizations were formed, The MdBio Division of TCM/MdBio and the MdBio Foundation.
The MdBio foundation is a private non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the growth of bioscience in Maryland through a variety of programs, with a special emphasis on education, training and communications.
Julie Coons
Chief Executive Officer
Tech Council of Maryland/MdBio
9713 Key West Avenue, Suite 100
Rockville, MD 20850
240.243.4080 [ph]
email
Richard A. Zakour, Executive Director
Jen Colvin, Director of Education and Workforce Programs
Blanche Johnson, Investment Advisor to the Board
Barbara Weitzer, Secretary to the Board