Seattle biotech research hub launches with big goals for growth, scientific advances
The Seattle Hub for Synthetic Biology, a joint initiative of the Allen Institute, the University of Washington and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, celebrated its official launch on April 1st.
The organization currently has 15 staff members and 3,600 square feet at Dexter Yard in Seattle’s Westlake area, but leaders aim to have up to 27 staff members and 12,000 square feet of space by the end of the year. Within five years, the staff could grow to around 50 people.
The Seattle Hub for Synthetic Biology is developing technology to monitor genomic changes in cells in real time, in turn showing cells’ whole histories and the genetic causes of disease. Rui Costa, CEO of the Allen Institute, commented that the organizations wanted to make the hub here because Seattle is a leader in this type of science, and the hub is hiring from universities, life science companies and tech, among other industries.