Construction is underway for BioHelix Corporation's new, first-class research and product development facility at 500 Cummings Center. Founded in 2004 and incubating at New England Biolabs' former location since its origins, BioHelix has signed a lease for 10,000 s/f at Cummings Center's newest building, where a considerable investment is being made in office and laboratory space, custom-built by Cummings Properties. BioHelix founder, president and CEO Huimin Kong, Ph.D., formerly with New England Biolabs, viewed the relocation of his growing company to 500 Cummings Center as a natural fit, given the solid reputation of the office/research park and its established community of more than 30 life science firms. "I chose Cummings Properties for its proven capabilities to provide an attractive, first-class facility to meet our research grant requirements and allow for long-term growth," Dr. Kong said. "Cummings' experienced in-house design, construction and management teams, coupled with New England Biolabs' positive experience, kept leading me back to Cummings Center in my search for BioHelix' new home." Mike Farrell, leasing/property manager at Cummings Center, worked with BioHelix to meet the sophisticated needs of the growing company. "Many life science firms such as BioHelix find Cummings Center to be an appealing alternative to Cambridge," said Farrell. "We offer lower rental costs, free parking, less traffic and congestion, and an easier commute. It's good news for the North Shore and confirmation that Cummings Center is the prime location for research firms in our area." Life science firms occupy more than 500,000 s/f at Cummings Center, the North Shore's premier office/research park. The award-winning campus boasts a network of more than 500 client businesses representing a broad cross-section of industries, including numerous corporate headquarters, major software developers, high tech start-ups, law firms and more than 100 health care practices. Joined by two full-service banks, fitness facilities, children's, adult and canine day care, five restaurants, on-site MBTA and CATA bus service and a branch of North Shore Community College, Cummings Center offers a pond-side setting. BioHelix has developed novel methods for in vitro DNA amplification, providing cost-effective, instrument-free nucleic acid tests at the point-of-care. While these technologies are highly sensitive and cutting-edge, the success of the company's products relies on their speed, ease-of-use and minimum capital expense for clinical laboratories. Currently, BioHelix has concentrated on the infectious disease market, with agreements and awards to develop diagnostic tests for staph infections, HIV and STDs. Their simple screening assays hold great potential for at-home testing in the future. Cummings Properties is a Woburn-based real estate development company that has developed and manages nearly 10 million s/f of first-class, office, research, light manufacturing and commercial space. The firm, locally owned and operated for 40 years, provides business homes to nearly 2,000 clients in 10 Greater Boston communities and has a strong history of working with growing businesses. Recently recognized by BUILDINGS Magazine as one of the nation's top 25 real estate organizations, Cummings Properties has earned a reputation for high quality and ethical standards, innovation, commitment to service and client longevity.