As we mark the rough anniversary of launching the KC BioHub as a full-time effort with dedicated staff, it’s a fitting time to reflect on how far we’ve come and the remarkable work we have in front of us.
When you’re in the work, executing on a daily basis, it can be hard to step onto the balcony and look down on the big picture. When you do, the full measure of our collective work comes into focus, and let me tell you—it’s impressive.
- We’ve built a vibrant and active community of 125+ consortium members and a smart, dedicated advisory board. Yes, managing that many relationships is a challenge, but it’s also an investment of time. I am confident that, because of the investment we’ve made in building this community, we have the right people around the table to meet any challenge that comes our way.
- We have been recognized for our potential to become a global industry leader, earning full EDA Tech Hubs Designation.
- This consortium has collaborated to define a clear theory of change, giving us a shared definition of success that will provide a backbone for our work. This will inform the creation of a public-facing dashboard with impact metrics that we plan to launch later this year. Being clear and transparent about our shared goals will allow us to demonstrate our progress and hold each other accountable.
- We’ve assembled the resources that we need to ensure the sustainability of our core operations, which allows us to focus fully on the future and our impact at scale. This is a hurdle that is a necessary prerequisite to achieving big impact. Now that we’ve passed it, the sky is the limit.
- This year, we’ve secured dedicated appropriations from both the Kansas and Missouri legislatures. These represent the first direct legislative commitment to fund a place-based innovation effort in either state in 15 years, and the first time ever that our two states have collaborated to do so jointly. We take our mandate to provide the leverage that will turn these investments into a strong taxpayer ROI very seriously.
- Our real estate projects are advancing. Having completed design and feasibility work for our non-profit CDMO, we’re finalizing a lease now and starting construction soon. This will fill an early-stage gap, helping undercapitalized startups access the equipment and expertise they need to complete pre-clinical work. This will help innovators bring their products to market more quickly, and help them accelerate to the point where they can take advantage of the wealth of CRO/CDMO expertise we have in this region as customers.
- Early programmatic efforts are underway. While we don’t see ourselves directly delivering programs very often, when our consortium partners need to see evidence of pilot success before launching new programs, we’ll step in. An initial cohort of 10 new bio-focused angel investor have completed our Investor Education Series.
- We have regularly represented this innovation community on the national and global stage. Relationships built and connections made in these rooms are raising our regional profile, making sure that when people think and talk about bio innovation ecosystems, Kansas City is mentioned in the same breath as Boston, Silicon Valley, San Diego, RTP, and Indianapolis.
- Our consortium partners have continued to double down on their commitment to the growth of this industry and this research enterprise, announcing investments across the public and private sector. These range from major site selection and business expansion activity to new research centers and university facilities.
- Innovators like Elias Animal Health, Ronawk, and Likarda are advancing technologies developed in this region, continuing to clear hurdles in the regulatory process, make unmatched technical discoveries, and pivot as they develop.
Two years ago today, the KC BioHub was a concept, not an organization. We were volunteer led. We’d just submitted our first Tech Hubs grant and were thinking for the first time about what this work would look like outside of that single grant program. One year ago today, Laurie and I were just finalizing plans to start working on the KC BioHub full-time as a part of the BioNexus KC umbrella. We’ve come so far over the last year, and I think that if you take the time to fully appreciate how much we’ve accomplished in that time, you’ll be just as impressed as I am.
As we batten down the hatches and prepare for the drop of the next Tech Hubs NOFO, as well as pursue other opportunities to bring funding and attention to our region, we’re in a place that is stable and poised for growth, both internally and as a region. We have the right partners around the table, the right staff, resources, and infrastructure in place to truly take flight.
Thanks for all of your hard work and partnership—we look forward to building on this strong foundation, together.
