Our Mission

Connecticut’s bioscience community is one of the most innovative in the world. Our mission at New Haven Innovation Labs is to provide the scientists and entrepreneurs who live and work here with a state-of-the-art laboratory incubator where they can discover, collaborate, and grow.

Who We Serve

Designed for scientists and entrepreneurs at the earliest stages of growth, our spaces are available with flexible leases and include access to shared equipment, conference rooms, a café, mentoring, programming, and membership to BioCT. An on-site vivarium for in vivo studies, as well as a prototyping service through Pierce Lab’s technical services department, are also available.

Founding Creators

New Haven Innovation Labs was created by leaders at The John B. Pierce Laboratory, whose vision was to provide Connecticut’s bioscience community with commercial-grade lab space, offices, and incubator services that would help them grow their idea or start-up at the earliest stages of discovery among like-minded scientists and entrepreneurs. To bring the project to life, the Pierce team partnered with BioCT, whose successful development of BioCT Innovation Commons in Groton made them the ideal choice to help create and manage the incubator.

New Haven Innovation Labs is made possible by a private investment from the John B. Pierce Laboratory, as well as a grant from CTNext, the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, and Elm City Innovation Collaborative, which stewards the local impact of state investment in New Haven’s innovation and entrepreneurship economies.

Our Mission

Connecticut’s bioscience community is one of the most innovative in the world. Our mission at New Haven Innovation Labs is to provide the scientists and entrepreneurs who live and work here with a state-of-the-art laboratory incubator where they can discover, collaborate, and grow.

Who We Serve

Designed for scientists and entrepreneurs at the earliest stages of growth, our spaces are available with flexible leases and include access to shared equipment, conference rooms, a café, mentoring, programming, and membership to BioCT. An on-site vivarium for in vivo studies, as well as a prototyping service through Pierce Lab’s technical services department, are also available.

Founding Creators

New Haven Innovation Labs was created by leaders at The John B. Pierce Laboratory, whose vision was to provide Connecticut’s bioscience community with commercial-grade lab space, offices, and incubator services that would help them grow their idea or start-up at the earliest stages of discovery among like-minded scientists and entrepreneurs. To bring the project to life, the Pierce team partnered with BioCT, whose successful development of BioCT Innovation Commons in Groton made them the ideal choice to help create and manage the incubator.

Elm City Bioscience Labs is made possible by a private investment from the John B. Pierce Laboratory, as well as a grant from CTNext, the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, and Elm City Innovation Collaborative, which stewards the local impact of state investment in New Haven’s innovation and entrepreneurship economies.

About The John B. Pierce Laboratory

The John B. Pierce Laboratory is a nonprofit, independent research institute with a long and distinguished history. Founded in 1933 and located across the street from Yale School of Medicine, the laboratory has long afforded a unique environment for interaction and collaboration among scientists within the laboratory and in the surrounding Yale community.

Well known as a leading center for the study of physiological regulatory systems, The John B. Pierce Laboratory’s longstanding emphasis on multidisciplinary systems-level research is perfectly suited to the study of homeostasic mechanisms and their complex interactions with the environment. Collaborations that reach across such wide-ranging fields as regulatory physiology, sensory and behavioral neuroscience, brain imaging, molecular biology, and genetics place Pierce Laboratory scientists in a unique position to make breakthroughs in basic research that can be translated into improvements in human health and well-being.

Although autonomous, the laboratory has been formally affiliated with Yale University since 1966. 

About The John B. Pierce Laboratory

The John B. Pierce Laboratory is a nonprofit, independent research institute with a long and distinguished history. Founded in 1933 and located across the street from Yale School of Medicine, the laboratory has long afforded a unique environment for interaction and collaboration among scientists within the laboratory and in the surrounding Yale community.

Well known as a leading center for the study of physiological regulatory systems, The John B. Pierce Laboratory’s longstanding emphasis on multidisciplinary systems-level research is perfectly suited to the study of homeostasic mechanisms and their complex interactions with the environment. Collaborations that reach across such wide-ranging fields as regulatory physiology, sensory and behavioral neuroscience, brain imaging, molecular biology, and genetics place Pierce Laboratory scientists in a unique position to make breakthroughs in basic research that can be translated into improvements in human health and well-being.

Although autonomous, the laboratory has been formally affiliated with Yale University since 1966. 

About BioCT

BioCT is the industry voice for bioscience in Connecticut. Dedicated to growing the vibrant bioscience ecosystem in our state, the organization supports innovation, collaboration, networking, education, talent engagement, and advocacy. BioCT brings together companies, institutions, entrepreneurs, investors, government, service providers, and other passionate, dedicated people to create a thriving community to improve patients’ lives and public health and drive economic growth.

About BioCT

BioCT is the industry voice for bioscience in Connecticut. Dedicated to growing the vibrant bioscience ecosystem in our state, the organization supports innovation, collaboration, networking, education, talent engagement, and advocacy. BioCT brings together companies, institutions, entrepreneurs, investors, government, service providers, and other passionate, dedicated people to create a thriving community to improve patients’ lives and public health and drive economic growth.

The New Haven Innovation Labs Team

Vincent Pieribone

Director Emeritus and Fellow, The John. B. Pierce Laboratory, Director Emeritus, New Haven Innovation Labs

Dr. Pieribone received a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology and chemistry from the New York University College of Arts and Sciences and a Ph.D. in neuroanatomy and neurophysiology from New York University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. From 1990 to 1992 he was a National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health Fogarty International Fellow at the Nobel Institute of Neurophysiology at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, after which he returned to New York to complete postdoctoral work with Nobel Laureate Dr. Paul Greengard at The Rockefeller University, where he became an assistant professor in 1995. Dr. Pieribone joined The John B. Pierce Laboratory and the Departments of Molecular and Cellular Physiology and Neuroscience at Yale University in 1998, becoming a full fellow and full professor in 2013. In 2017 he was named director of The John B. Pierce Laboratory.

A visiting scientist at Mystic Aquarium and The Museum of Natural History, Dr. Pieribone has produced more than 100 original scientific publications and holds several patents. He co-authored the book “Aglow in the Dark: the Revolutionary Science of Biofluorescence” (Harvard Press; 2005) and founded two companies, Marinus Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ; MRNS) and Affinimark Technologies.

Today, Dr. Pieribone’s laboratory focuses on the development of novel methods that allow widespread optical capture of the brain’s electrical activity. He focuses on three areas: 1) engineering protein-based optical voltage indicators, 2) engineering mobile high-speed optical brain/computer interfaces, and 3) identifying novel fluorescent and bioluminescent systems from marine organisms. Dr. Pieribone’s research is supported by the National Institutes of Health, The National Science Foundation, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

John Geibel

Director, The John. B. Pierce Laboratory, Professor of Surgery and Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine; Director, New Haven Innovation Labs

John Geibel is the Director of the John B Pierce Laboratory and Professor of Surgery and Cellular and Molecular Physiology at Yale University School of Medicine. His early research training was in Innsbruck Austria where he worked in the Physiology Department and investigated renal physiology on the isolated perfused tubule model. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Physiology, an MD and DSc degree as well as a Master’s of Science, and a Master’s of Arts Degree. He has also obtained his Dozent in Medicine from the University of Innsbruck. He recently was award and MD (h.a) from Paracelsus Medical University in Salzburg Austria. After obtaining his Dozent he went to Yale University first as a visiting fellow and then joined the faculty in both Surgery and Cellular and Molecular Physiology where he rose through the ranks to Professor in both faculties.


Most recently he took over the role of Director of the John B Pierce Laboratory.


Academically, Professor Geibel’s active research interests span a variety of fields and topics covering research on the role of the Calcium Sensing Receptor (CaSR) in gastrointestinal physiology and pathophysiology, intestinal ion transport, and 3D Bioprinting. In addition, John Geibel has conducted research in fluid and electrolyte transport in the intestine where he was the first to identify that the colonic crypt can both actively secrete and absorb fluid. He has also identified 4 new transport pathways in the stomach that play important roles in acid secretion and may help to explain some of the hypersecretion of acid that occurs in patients. Along with these studies on the gastrointestinal tract he maintains a research program in the kidney where he was the first to identify a functional role for the H-ATPase in the proximal tubule and was also the first to demonstrate a role for Angiotensin on the Na/H exchanger and Na/HCO3 and H-ATPase in the proximal tubule.


Professor Geibel is the author of over 250 publications and presents his findings both nationally and internationally. He is the holder of 14 patents covering the role of the calcium sensing receptor on gastrointestinal models, a device for intestinal transplantation, and on the roles of Zinc to modulate acid secretion. Recently Dr. Geibel has actively developed a 3D Bioprinting program for vascular anomalies and intestinal repair. These studies have shown the viability of these prints as replacements for the native tissues and the studies have successfully implanted a functional aorta replacement in the rat and have also led to developing a functional repair model for intestinal injury.

Christopher Vendola

Director of Facilities, The John, B. Pierce Laboratory; Director of Operations, New Haven Innovation Labs

Christopher Vendola is part of New Haven Innovation Labs’ founding team. Drawing on his extensive experience in construction, project management, issue resolution, coordination, and communication, he helped take the idea for a new bioscience incubator from concept to fruition. As New Haven Innovation Labs’ Director of Operations, Chris will ensure that bioscience startups in New Haven have a great place to do their research, which will help them to succeed in their new endeavors.

In addition to his role at New Haven Innovation Labs, Chris is Director of Facilities at the John B. Pierce Laboratory, where he works with a diverse group of scientists and support staff. His goal at Pierce is to make sure this professional research laboratory performs optimally by meeting scientists’ research and support needs and by providing them with access to a healthy, safe, and secure environment.

Chris began his career in facilities management at Quinnipiac University. As a supervisor in the Mechanical Services division of the Department of Facilities, he successfully managed a team that provided services to faculty, staff, and students in 80 buildings both on and off campus. Before joining Quinnipiac, Chris enjoyed a nineteen year career in construction as a mechanic, supervisor and project manager, participating in mechanical system installations.

Chris holds contractor licenses in plumbing, heating and cooling, and medical gas and vacuum systems. He is also a certified Educational Facilities Professional specializing in higher education. Chris majored in management and minored in sociology at Quinnipiac University’s School of Business.

Kimberly Nash Kelly

BioCT Innovations Operating Director; Managing Director, New Haven Innovation Labs

Kimberly Kelly joined CURE (now BioCT) in April of 2014, bringing her considerable biotech experience in research, facilities, laboratory build-outs, project management and environmental health and safety (EHS) to the organization. Prior to joining BioCT, Ms. Kelly was associate director of operations at Melinta Therapeutics (formerly Rib-X Pharmaceuticals) where she was instrumental in driving the company’s operational activities.

Before that, Ms. Kelly held various roles at Melinta with increasing responsibilities in the areas of project management, EHS, laboratory management, contractor and vendor management, and facility improvements management and budgeting. She also held management and supervisory roles at Worldwide Clinical Trials (formerly CEDRA).

Ms. Kelly holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Rhode Island. She is chair of the board of directors of Thames River Innovation, an alumni of the Leadership Program of Eastern Connecticut, and serves on the Norwich Technical High School Biotech Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee as well as the Chamber of Eastern Connecticut’s Dream Center Advisory Committee.

Jodie Gillon

President and CEO, BioCT

Jodie Gillon brings over 25 years of experience in large pharma & biotech having started her career in advocacy and hospitals, in the US and abroad. With vast expertise leading key functions, she is sought after as an advisor to Incubators and Innovation Centers, and as a consultant for biotech, AI, RWE, digital health, and non profit organizations.

Jodie most recently served as the SVP of Corporate Affairs and Patient Advocacy building out the Patient, Medical, and Corporate Affairs functions at Peptilogics, a Phase I and Machine Learning start up. She previously served as the Chief Patient Officer and Head of Clinical Affairs Affairs at Abeona Therapeutics, a cell and gene therapy company. Prior to joining Abeona, Jodie cumulatively spent over a decade with Pfizer as the Global Medical Lead, Patient Engagement, for the Rare Diseases Business Unit and the Director, Medical Communications, within the Chief Medical Office. Prior to Pfizer, Jodie was the Head of Patient Advocacy and Professional Affairs with Achillion Pharmaceuticals where she led Policy, Alliances, Patient Engagement, Contributions/Grants, Compassionate Use, Medical Information, Medica Communications, Field Medical, and External Affairs. Previously she served as the Head of the Chief Medical Office (CMO) of AstraZeneca, where she managed Patient Engagement, Compassionate Use, Trial and Payment Transparency, Meetings and Events, an HCP Engagement Center, Companywide policy, External contributions, Alliances, and Crisis management. Jodie held additional roles as the Global Communications lead at Novartis, Director of Medical Education for Oridion Medical and as a Health Economist with the Israeli Center for Disease Control and Ministry of Health.

She holds a Master’s of Public Health with a dual degree in Health Economics and Epidemiology from Hebrew University in Jerusalem and a BSFS from Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service. She currently serves on several industry wide Boards and Committees, has published and spoken externally across a wide variety of topics and mentors students and female professionals across our industry. While a native New Yorker, Jodie fell in love with New Haven while at Achillion and is proud to call Connecticut her permanent home for three years now. She is eager to contribute to the budding ecosystem here and welcomes you to connect with her.

Kelley Gipson

Executive Director, Operations Coordination, BioCT

Kelley Gipson is the executive director of Operations Coordination at BioCT. Prior to this role, Ms. Gipson worked as a consultant on experiential brand strategy and multi-channel communications engagements. Until 2010, she served as the brand director, chief communications officer, and chief of staff at a global, Fortune 500 financial services firm. Prior to that, she was a group account director and senior strategist at several New York advertising agencies, where she developed brand narratives for clients in a variety of industries. Ms. Gipson has directed several high-profile communications initiatives including corporate acquisitions and divestures, management transitions, IPOs, bankruptcy and restructurings, and crisis programs. A member of the International Association of Business Communicators, Elevate, and The Financial Communications Society, and a prior member of the National Advertising Review Board, CIT’s Women’s Leadership Council, and Executive Management Committee, Ms. Gipson graduated from New York University and completed the Executive Program on Negotiation at the Harvard Business School.

Ms. Gipson’s work has been recognized by The Public Relations Society of America and The Financial Communications Society.

The New Haven Innovation Labs Team

Vincent Pieribone

Director Emeritus and Fellow, The John. B. Pierce Laboratory, Director Emeritus, New Haven Innovation Labs

Dr. Pieribone received a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology and chemistry from the New York University College of Arts and Sciences and a Ph.D. in neuroanatomy and neurophysiology from New York University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. From 1990 to 1992 he was a National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health Fogarty International Fellow at the Nobel Institute of Neurophysiology at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, after which he returned to New York to complete postdoctoral work with Nobel Laureate Dr. Paul Greengard at The Rockefeller University, where he became an assistant professor in 1995. Dr. Pieribone joined The John B. Pierce Laboratory and the Departments of Molecular and Cellular Physiology and Neuroscience at Yale University in 1998, becoming a full fellow and full professor in 2013. In 2017 he was named director of The John B. Pierce Laboratory.

A visiting scientist at Mystic Aquarium and The Museum of Natural History, Dr. Pieribone has produced more than 100 original scientific publications and holds several patents. He co-authored the book “Aglow in the Dark: the Revolutionary Science of Biofluorescence” (Harvard Press; 2005) and founded two companies, Marinus Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ; MRNS) and Affinimark Technologies.

Today, Dr. Pieribone’s laboratory focuses on the development of novel methods that allow widespread optical capture of the brain’s electrical activity. He focuses on three areas: 1) engineering protein-based optical voltage indicators, 2) engineering mobile high-speed optical brain/computer interfaces, and 3) identifying novel fluorescent and bioluminescent systems from marine organisms. Dr. Pieribone’s research is supported by the National Institutes of Health, The National Science Foundation, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

John Geibel

Director, The John. B. Pierce Laboratory, Professor of Surgery and Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine; Director, New Haven Innovation Labs

John Geibel is the Director of the John B Pierce Laboratory and Professor of Surgery and Cellular and Molecular Physiology at Yale University School of Medicine. His early research training was in Innsbruck Austria where he worked in the Physiology Department and investigated renal physiology on the isolated perfused tubule model. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Physiology, an MD and DSc degree as well as a Master’s of Science, and a Master’s of Arts Degree. He has also obtained his Dozent in Medicine from the University of Innsbruck. He recently was award and MD (h.a) from Paracelsus Medical University in Salzburg Austria. After obtaining his Dozent he went to Yale University first as a visiting fellow and then joined the faculty in both Surgery and Cellular and Molecular Physiology where he rose through the ranks to Professor in both faculties.


Most recently he took over the role of Director of the John B Pierce Laboratory.


Academically, Professor Geibel’s active research interests span a variety of fields and topics covering research on the role of the Calcium Sensing Receptor (CaSR) in gastrointestinal physiology and pathophysiology, intestinal ion transport, and 3D Bioprinting. In addition, John Geibel has conducted research in fluid and electrolyte transport in the intestine where he was the first to identify that the colonic crypt can both actively secrete and absorb fluid. He has also identified 4 new transport pathways in the stomach that play important roles in acid secretion and may help to explain some of the hypersecretion of acid that occurs in patients. Along with these studies on the gastrointestinal tract he maintains a research program in the kidney where he was the first to identify a functional role for the H-ATPase in the proximal tubule and was also the first to demonstrate a role for Angiotensin on the Na/H exchanger and Na/HCO3 and H-ATPase in the proximal tubule.


Professor Geibel is the author of over 250 publications and presents his findings both nationally and internationally. He is the holder of 14 patents covering the role of the calcium sensing receptor on gastrointestinal models, a device for intestinal transplantation, and on the roles of Zinc to modulate acid secretion. Recently Dr. Geibel has actively developed a 3D Bioprinting program for vascular anomalies and intestinal repair. These studies have shown the viability of these prints as replacements for the native tissues and the studies have successfully implanted a functional aorta replacement in the rat and have also led to developing a functional repair model for intestinal injury.

Christopher Vendola

Director of Facilities, The John, B. Pierce Laboratory; Director of Operations, New Haven Innovation Labs

Christopher Vendola is part of New Haven Innovation Labs’ founding team. Drawing on his extensive experience in construction, project management, issue resolution, coordination, and communication, he helped take the idea for a new bioscience incubator from concept to fruition. As New Haven Innovation Labs’ Director of Operations, Chris will ensure that bioscience startups in New Haven have a great place to do their research, which will help them to succeed in their new endeavors.

In addition to his role at New Haven Innovation Labs, Chris is Director of Facilities at the John B. Pierce Laboratory, where he works with a diverse group of scientists and support staff. His goal at Pierce is to make sure this professional research laboratory performs optimally by meeting scientists’ research and support needs and by providing them with access to a healthy, safe, and secure environment.

Chris began his career in facilities management at Quinnipiac University. As a supervisor in the Mechanical Services division of the Department of Facilities, he successfully managed a team that provided services to faculty, staff, and students in 80 buildings both on and off campus. Before joining Quinnipiac, Chris enjoyed a nineteen year career in construction as a mechanic, supervisor and project manager, participating in mechanical system installations.

Chris holds contractor licenses in plumbing, heating and cooling, and medical gas and vacuum systems. He is also a certified Educational Facilities Professional specializing in higher education. Chris majored in management and minored in sociology at Quinnipiac University’s School of Business.

Kimberly Nash Kelly

BioCT Innovations Operating Director; Managing Director, New Haven Innovation Labs

Kimberly Kelly joined CURE (now BioCT) in April of 2014, bringing her considerable biotech experience in research, facilities, laboratory build-outs, project management and environmental health and safety (EHS) to the organization. Prior to joining BioCT, Ms. Kelly was associate director of operations at Melinta Therapeutics (formerly Rib-X Pharmaceuticals) where she was instrumental in driving the company’s operational activities.

Before that, Ms. Kelly held various roles at Melinta with increasing responsibilities in the areas of project management, EHS, laboratory management, contractor and vendor management, and facility improvements management and budgeting. She also held management and supervisory roles at Worldwide Clinical Trials (formerly CEDRA).

Ms. Kelly holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Rhode Island. She is chair of the board of directors of Thames River Innovation, an alumni of the Leadership Program of Eastern Connecticut, and serves on the Norwich Technical High School Biotech Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee as well as the Chamber of Eastern Connecticut’s Dream Center Advisory Committee.

Jodie Gillon

President and CEO, BioCT

Jodie Gillon brings over 25 years of experience in large pharma & biotech having started her career in advocacy and hospitals, in the US and abroad. With vast expertise leading key functions, she is sought after as an advisor to Incubators and Innovation Centers, and as a consultant for biotech, AI, RWE, digital health, and non profit organizations.

Jodie most recently served as the SVP of Corporate Affairs and Patient Advocacy building out the Patient, Medical, and Corporate Affairs functions at Peptilogics, a Phase I and Machine Learning start up. She previously served as the Chief Patient Officer and Head of Clinical Affairs Affairs at Abeona Therapeutics, a cell and gene therapy company. Prior to joining Abeona, Jodie cumulatively spent over a decade with Pfizer as the Global Medical Lead, Patient Engagement, for the Rare Diseases Business Unit and the Director, Medical Communications, within the Chief Medical Office. Prior to Pfizer, Jodie was the Head of Patient Advocacy and Professional Affairs with Achillion Pharmaceuticals where she led Policy, Alliances, Patient Engagement, Contributions/Grants, Compassionate Use, Medical Information, Medica Communications, Field Medical, and External Affairs. Previously she served as the Head of the Chief Medical Office (CMO) of AstraZeneca, where she managed Patient Engagement, Compassionate Use, Trial and Payment Transparency, Meetings and Events, an HCP Engagement Center, Companywide policy, External contributions, Alliances, and Crisis management. Jodie held additional roles as the Global Communications lead at Novartis, Director of Medical Education for Oridion Medical and as a Health Economist with the Israeli Center for Disease Control and Ministry of Health.

She holds a Master’s of Public Health with a dual degree in Health Economics and Epidemiology from Hebrew University in Jerusalem and a BSFS from Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service. She currently serves on several industry wide Boards and Committees, has published and spoken externally across a wide variety of topics and mentors students and female professionals across our industry. While a native New Yorker, Jodie fell in love with New Haven while at Achillion and is proud to call Connecticut her permanent home for three years now. She is eager to contribute to the budding ecosystem here and welcomes you to connect with her.

Kelley Gipson

Executive Director, Operations Coordination, BioCT

Kelley Gipson is the executive director of Operations Coordination at BioCT. Prior to this role, Ms. Gipson worked as a consultant on experiential brand strategy and multi-channel communications engagements. Until 2010, she served as the brand director, chief communications officer, and chief of staff at a global, Fortune 500 financial services firm. Prior to that, she was a group account director and senior strategist at several New York advertising agencies, where she developed brand narratives for clients in a variety of industries. Ms. Gipson has directed several high-profile communications initiatives including corporate acquisitions and divestures, management transitions, IPOs, bankruptcy and restructurings, and crisis programs. A member of the International Association of Business Communicators, Elevate, and The Financial Communications Society, and a prior member of the National Advertising Review Board, CIT’s Women’s Leadership Council, and Executive Management Committee, Ms. Gipson graduated from New York University and completed the Executive Program on Negotiation at the Harvard Business School.

Ms. Gipson’s work has been recognized by The Public Relations Society of America and The Financial Communications Society.

OUR SPONSORS

BioCT
John Pierce Laboratory
Middlesex Gases
Boehringer Ingelheim
CT Next
New Haven Innovation
Svigals + Partners
AKF Group
New England Edge
Strategic Spaces
ThermoFisher Scientific
Eppendorf

OUR SPONSORS

BioCT
John Pierce Laboratory
Middlesex Gases
Boehringer Ingelheim
CT Next
New Haven Innovation
Svigals + Partners
AKF Group
New England Edge
Strategic Spaces
ThermoFisher Scientific
Eppendorf

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