Build from Strength: Baltimore Life Sciences
The Baltimore Together Summit 2024 left me feeling inspired and optimistic about the future of life sciences in our city. I attended Morning Panel #2, titled "Build from Strength: Life Sciences in Baltimore," which highlighted how Baltimore is fostering growth in the life sciences sector through local companies, research institutions, and strategic investments. The discussion was led by Dr. Arti Santhanam, Executive Director of the Emerging Technology Centers, and featured prominent figures such as Dr. Elizabeth Clayborne, Dr. Deborah Hemingway, Jesse Christopher, and Dr. Matt Tremblay.
Dr. Elizabeth Clayborne, CEO of NasaClip, captured the audience's attention with her journey from improvising solutions in the ER to founding NasaClip, a medical device company now generating significant revenue with partnerships such as Disney Cruise Lines. As a woman of color, Dr. Clayborne shared her challenges raising over \$3.5 million and emphasized the importance of representation and community support—an aspect she found in Baltimore—to help overcome barriers that women and minority founders often face.
Dr. Deborah Hemingway of Ecphora Capital echoed this sense of empowerment as she described her firm's focus on investing in medtech and life sciences companies. She noted how Baltimore is uniquely positioned to grow due to the incredible talent pool and existing ecosystem support, mentioning that her firm recently surpassed \$10 million in assets under management. Dr. Hemingway also highlighted the importance of Maryland's biotechnology investment tax credit, which has been instrumental in attracting external investors to the state.
Jesse Christopher, CEO of Longeviti, brought a different but equally exciting perspective, detailing how his company grew from garage-scale beginnings to a significant player in the neurotechnology space. He noted that the unique concentration of institutions like Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland make Baltimore an epicenter of neurosurgical and medical innovation—something Longeviti is leveraging to produce cranial implants that are both functional and revolutionary.
Dr. Matt Tremblay of Blackbird Laboratories, a newer company focused on creating breakthrough therapeutics, brought up the value of collaboration across industries and how Baltimore's ecosystem supports the entire lifecycle of medical product development—from innovation to scale. He spoke about the generous support his company received from investors such as the Bisciotti family and stressed the importance of ensuring that companies grow here instead of moving elsewhere.
Listening to this panel reinforced my belief in the power of community and collaboration. The challenges shared by these industry leaders are not unique to them; they are similar to the ones Brayearst Validation Consulting faces—finding capital, navigating regulation, and ultimately helping life sciences companies innovate efficiently and safely. Their success stories motivate me to continue helping manufacturers in the best way I know how: by providing structured, targeted validation services that stand up to regulatory scrutiny.
The sense of solidarity, from celebrating $10 million in assets under management to scaling from a garage to Port Covington, is a testament to the resilience and collaborative spirit of Baltimore's life sciences community. I left the summit more determined than ever to be a part of this growing story, helping life sciences manufacturers through the challenges of compliance so they can focus on innovation and growth.
If you're as excited as I am about the future of life sciences in Baltimore, I'd love to connect and discuss how Brayearst can contribute to this thriving ecosystem. Let's make Baltimore the epicenter of life sciences growth. Reach out today—together, we can create impactful innovation and make our vision a reality.
About Brayearst Validation Consulting
Brayearst Validation Consulting leverages Six Sigma methodologies to provide targeted validation services for the life sciences industry. We specialize in process, cleaning, software, and analytical test method validation, ensuring compliance with FDA requirements while optimizing operations for efficiency and quality. Our team combines technical expertise with a deep understanding of regulatory standards to deliver process-driven validation documents that withstand rigorous auditor scrutiny. From strategy development to study execution, we empower our clients to achieve operational excellence and bring high-quality products to the market with confidence.
