Pasadena Bioscience Collaborative Has Plans to Stay Ahead of “Rapidly Increasing Competition”

City officials, scholars and scientists gathered at the site of the newly expanded The Pasadena Bioscience Collective Incubator on 2265 East Foothill Boulevard Friday morning to welcome the organization’s new President Dr. Robert Bishop and to tour of the hi-tech facility expansion – a major feature that aims to keep PBC at the forefront of innovation.

The announcement was made during a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating Dr. Bishop’s appointment along with former President Bruce Blomstrom’s retirement who served over ten years leading Pasadena’s premier high-tech incubator for early stage life science companies.

“Everyone who works here is well aware that there’s rapidly increasing competition in what we call the incubator business. There are currently a handful of new facilities on the scene — several in the planning stages, other already under construction and some recently opened,” explained Bishop.

“We at PBC all understand that we need to stay ahead of our competition and that this won’t be an easy task. That said, PBC has come a long way,” said Bishop.

PBC is the longest established non-profit incubator in the area.

Since opening its doors in 2004, it’s worked with more than 40 companies and currently has 20 operating out of PBC at this point in time.

“I’m proud of PBC’s many accomplishments during Mr. Blomstrom’s tenure as President. He has hired an exceptional staff and over the last year has prepared me to make a seamless transition. With this strong foundation, I look forward to continuing in his successful footsteps,” said Bishop.

Dr. Bishop joined the PBC Board of Directors in 2015 as Vice President and has served as Chief Operating Officer since January 1, 2017. He is a veteran of the health care industry, having led companies in the Pharmaceutical, medical device and diagnostic sectors. He earned his Ph.D in Biochemistry from the University of Southern California and an MBA from the University of Miami.

Bishop’s prior employment includes Chairman and CEO of AutoImmune Inc., Division President for Allergan Pharmaceuticals, Division President for Allergan Medical Optics, and a series of increasingly responsible R&D and executive positions at American Hospital Supply Corporation.

Experienced in nearly all of the steps in developing new technologies into viable businesses, he has served on the Board of Directors of five public and four private companies.

“It is truly unique working as a team. PBC people have taken recently many steps to help ensure our vitality in coming years,” said Bishop.

PBC offers low costs month to month leases that are scalable as companies grow, without requiring an equity position in a young company that to join it.

The facility provides either open area or lockable wet lab bench space for companies that includes shared use office space and conference rooms.

The facility recently underwent a major overhaul and expansion from 6,000 square feet to over 13,000 square feet as a means to attract and accommodate more start up companies.

“In the future we are hoping to be able to recruit more tenants to increase the capacity of our organization and also increase our abilities to be able to support them through both training programs and increase use of shared use equipment,” said Bishop.

The event was attended by city and community leaders, including Board members Rajen Vurdien, Pasadena City College President, William Covino, CSU Los Angeles President, former State Senator Jack Scott, who played a major role in establishing PBC, and Pasadena City Manager Steve Mermell.

For more information about Pasadena Bio Collaborative Incubator, visit pasadenabiosci.org.