Covington Welcomes Kentucky’s First Life Science Nonprofit
With a little help from New Riff Distilling, LifeSciKy, a life science incubator, officially opened its doors on Sept. 12. As Kentucky’s only nonprofit dedicated to advancing life sciences, the incubator is welcoming its first three tenants.
In July, LifeSciKy partnered with New Riff Distilling to release an exclusive single-barrel bourbon. Proceeds from the limited-edition release helped grant Clareo Biosciences $10,000 to assist with research. Similarly, PAN Biologics received a $10,000 grant from the “Stronger Together” bench sponsorship, which was sponsored by McD Concrete.
“This is more than a bottle of bourbon—it’s an investment in the future of science and innovation in Kentucky,” says Dr. Christin Godale, executive director of LifeSciKY.
The facility will open in the OneNKY Center, which is located on Greenup Street near the Roebling Bridge in Covington. The 15,000-square-foot space will feature a wet laboratory on the second floor of the building.
So far, three startups have announced relocation to Covington: PAN Biologics, a company developing radiotherapy to treat cancer; Clareo Biosciences, a DNA sequencing company that creates profiles of individuals’ immune systems to evaluate health risks; and Simbryo Technologies, which develops endometrial tissues for infertility treatment.
LifeSciKy has entered into a partnership with the University of Kentucky (UK) to promote economic development statewide and create job opportunities for students. The collaboration will enhance statewide access to the labs as well as offer opportunities for trainees in the life sciences innovation process.
“This partnership represents a critical next step in building a connected innovation corridor for Kentucky,” says Ian McClure, UK HealthCare vice president for innovation and UK Innovate executive director.
