New BSL-2 certified facility provides emerging health and life sciences companies with access to specialized laboratory space and commercialization opportunities.
Kingston, Ontario – July 16, 2026 – Kingston Economic Development officially celebrated the opening of the Helix Wet Lab with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house at Providence Care Hospital on July 16, marking an important milestone for Kingston’s growing health and life sciences sector.
Located within Providence Care Hospital, the Helix Wet Lab connects companies with Kingston’s world-class research institutions, healthcare organizations, and innovation community, creating new opportunities for collaboration and growth.
The event brought together representatives from Kingston Economic Development, Providence Care, tenant companies, industry and community partners, and regional life sciences association. Mayor Bryan Paterson provided the opening remarks along with Kingston Economic Development Corporation’s CEO Donna Gillespie and Providence Care President Cathy Szabo. Guests heard from project partners, participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and toured the new 1,000-square-foot Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) certified wet lab, designed to provide specialized laboratory space that supports the commercialization of health and life sciences innovations.
The Helix Wet Lab was developed in response to a shortage of affordable, move-in-ready wet lab space across southern Ontario, a challenge that has created significant barriers for early-stage life sciences companies looking to commercialize new technologies. Without access to specialized laboratory infrastructure, many startups face delays in development or are forced to seek opportunities in other jurisdictions, limiting the growth of local innovation ecosystems.
The Helix Wet Lab provides dedicated laboratory bench space, office workspace, and access to Providence Care’s research facilities, meeting space, and specialized shared scientific equipment. The facility includes biosafety cabinets, CO₂ incubators, a real-time PCR system, fluorescence microscopy, refrigerated centrifuges, gel electrophoresis systems, spectrophotometers, and other advanced laboratory equipment, providing emerging companies with the infrastructure needed to accelerate research and product development.
“The opening of the Helix Wet Lab reflects Kingston’s commitment to supporting innovators and strengthening our health and life sciences ecosystem,” said Ben McIlquham, Investment Manager, Life Sciences and Health Innovation, Kingston Economic Development. “By providing accessible laboratory space and opportunities for collaboration, we are helping companies move their ideas from concept to commercialization right here in Kingston.”
“The Helix Wet Lab represents an exciting new space for Providence Care and a significant renovation milestone for Providence Care Hospital. Bringing this project to life required collaboration across many departments and with our partners. We’re proud to see the lab become a reality and look forward to the opportunities it will create for research, testing and innovation that benefit our patients, clients, residents and the communities we serve,” said Chetan Phadke, Director, Partnerships & Innovation at Providence Care.
“The Helix Wet Lab strengthens the connection between healthcare, research and industry in Kingston. By providing specialized laboratory space within a hospital environment, it creates new and unique opportunities for collaboration, helping to support the growth of innovative health and life sciences companies in our region,” added Allison Philpot, Providence Care’s Vice President System Innovation & Executive Director Medical Affairs and Research.
The Helix Wet Lab is a key pillar of Kingston Economic Development’s $3.4 million life sciences initiative, designed to provide comprehensive support to early-stage and scaling life sciences businesses, accelerating innovation and commercialization. The initiative provides a comprehensive support system for Eastern Ontario companies, focusing on four key pillars:access to BSL-2 wet lab infrastructure, tailored business supports, commercialization funding, and an extensive validation network. Through this initiative, companies can utilize state-of-the-art Helix wet lab space at Providence Care Hospital, connect with expert mentors and technical advisors, and participate in the Build2Scale Life Sciences program.
Helix Funding and Helix Wet Lab are supported by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).
To learn more about the Helix Wet Lab and tenancy opportunities, visit InvestKingston.ca/Helix.
Media Contacts:
Ghazal Abdullah
Project Coordinator – Life Sciences
Kingston Economic Development Corporation
613-544-2725 X 7663
abdullah@investkingston.ca
Daniel Solorio
Marketing & Communications Manager
Kingston Economic Development Corporation
613-329-9270
solorio@investkingston.ca
