Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives Promotes Dr. Marsha Rolle to Vice President of Strategic Programs
Dr. Rolle joins executive team to accelerate MBI’s expansion into workforce development, advancement, marketing, and regional economic growth

WORCESTER, MA (August 27, 2026) – Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives (MBI) announced today that Dr. Marsha Rolle has been promoted to Vice President of Strategic Programs. In this role, Dr. Rolle will lead the integration and expansion of MBI’s regional economic growth and workforce initiatives, sponsored programs, advancement, and marketing, positioning the organization to amplify its impact across Central Massachusetts as the region emerges as a global biomanufacturing hub.

“Marsha quickly distinguished herself as a leader on Team MBI and has helped us build powerful new partnerships. This promotion leverages her leadership, partnership, and scientific expertise to benefit the growth of the Central Massachusetts BioHub and to help our area residents find transformational careers in the industry,” said Jon Weaver, President and CEO of MBI.

Dr. Rolle joined MBI in 2025 as Director of Advancement, where she managed MBI’s sponsored program portfolio and led MBI’s partnership and entrepreneur mentorship programs. In her first year with the team, she collaborated with Auxilium Worcester to launch the inaugural Auxilium-MBI Life Science Accelerator and organized MBI’s first Worcester StartUp Showcase at Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC) in Kendall Square. Her work builds on her scientific and academic leadership experience and combines authentic partnership and strategic vision to advance MBI’s mission. Now, leading workforce development, advancement, economic development, and marketing, she’ll weave these critical functions into a cohesive engine for regional growth, working closely with MBI staff, partners, donors, and collaborators.

The move comes as MBI prepares to launch its 2027–2030 Strategic Plan, which will capitalize on the momentum in the region and within MBI to build a global biomanufacturing hub in Central Massachusetts. In just the last 6 months, the Auxilium-MBI Accelerator launched with four life sciences and healthcare startups, backed by $1M in seed capital and access to MBI facilities; the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) awarded $3.5 million through its BioBoost program to strengthen manufacturing capacity and support company commercialization; and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s Innovation Institute (MassTech) invested $5.2 million in the Central Massachusetts WPI-MBI BioHub.

“I was drawn to Worcester and WPI almost 20 years ago by MBI’s mission and the collaborative vision for Gateway Park and the excitement of being part of a strong, emerging life science ecosystem,” said Dr. Rolle. “Marketing that story well, securing resources and building partnerships that fuel this work, growing the workforce pipeline, and executing economic development strategy as one integrated effort – that’s how we’ll expand on MBI’s successful incubator to help life sciences companies start, scale, and stay in Central Massachusetts.”

Dr. Rolle brings more than 20 years’ experience in the life science sector to the role. Prior to joining MBI, she was Associate Director of Life Science Programs at Northeastern University’s Roux Institute in Portland, ME where she was founding director of the BioCoLab – a mixed-use laboratory facility to support research, startup incubation, and experiential learning. For nearly 16 years, she was a biomedical engineering professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), where she mentored students, conducted tissue engineering and biomaterials research, and cultivated the academic-industry relationships that fuel commercial translation. Her career reflects a deep commitment to building ecosystems where innovation thrives.

About Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives
MBI is a non-profit focused on building the Central Massachusetts bio-cluster. Through its small business incubator, workforce development programs, and regional economic development initiatives, MBI partners to foster innovation in the life sciences. Since 2000, MBI has assisted over 197 companies, supporting the creation of more than 1,800 jobs and contributing to an estimated $2 billion in regional economic impact.

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Alicia Curran
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