Blackbird Labs, a recently launched Baltimore-area biotech accelerator, aims to help the next generation of life sciences leaders enhance their research outcomes — with a direct focus on potential benefits to human health.

As announced in a post on LinkedIn, the accelerator has welcomed Sarah Neshat, Esther Park and Brittni Moore as its first Blackbird Fellows.

“As a Blackbird Fellow, I am most excited to be a part of bridging the gap between academia and innovation,” Moore said in the announcement. “Working alongside passionate and creative minds, I can't wait to contribute to the growth of promising therapies and technologies in Baltimore." 

The fellowship aspires to equip near-graduation Ph.D. students with experience in conducting “due diligence” on their early-stage therapeutic technologies. The hope is that Blackbird might provide insights into its fellows' discoveries while turning them into “fully funded” companies with life-saving therapies.

Through their day-to-day interactions with Blackbird Associate Director of Strategy and Decision Support Jess Miciak, fellows can develop skills in evaluating preclinical science, comparing to current clinical benchmarks and standards of care, sizing market opportunities and creating comprehensive competitive landscapes for specific indications. 

“Jess helps drive the investment strategy at Blackbird and subsequently frames the project focus for each Fellow,” the Blackbird team said in an email to Technical.ly. “For this cohort, our Fellows are tasked with taking a deep dive into therapeutic approaches for the treatment of cancer. Each Fellow has been assigned a specific oncology modality and will build the framework for investment criteria.”

According to the email, the paid fellows will collaborate for an average of 10 hours per week and work alongside other accelerator team members (including CEO Matt Tremblay and venture partners) to support the final year of their respective Ph.D. studies at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Going forward, Fall 2024 cohort applications will open that preceding summer. The process involves submitting a resume and a cover letter that showcases the applicant's interest in meeting "experts in the drug development process" — a potential fellowship benefit the Blackbird team emphasized in the email.

Prospective fellows are encouraged to stay informed by regularly checking the Blackbird website and LinkedIn pages for updates.

In addition, the Baltimore Business Journal reported that Tremblay is consulting on Blackbird’s behalf for another life sciences accelerator set to launch next year: the University of Maryland, Baltimore Life Science Discovery program. This initiative is a collaborative partnership between the University of Maryland, Baltimore and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.