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Nuclea To Close Pittsfield Lab

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Nuclea is closing its Pittsfield lab.
 
The company announced "a major internal reorganization" on Monday that transfers its primary focus from research and development of products to commercialization. With that, the CLIA laboratory in Pittsfield will close.
 
"Nuclea's senior management is in the process of developing a new strategy aimed at rapidly expanding sales of its existing products, and introducing new products and services in 2016. The company’s commercial focus will remain on diagnostic and prognostic products for the management of cancer and metabolic disease, especially diabetes," reads a statement from the company.
 
The company says a new leadership team "is being assembled to implement the aggressive strategy. As part of its reorganization, the company is streamlining its operations which required eliminating position in both its Pittsfield and Cambridge locations."
 
"Since its inception, a major area of focus for the company has been economic development and job creation. The new plan will position the Company to grow rapidly, and to continue providing essential diagnostic kits and services for the management of patients in oncology and diabetes," the statement reads.
 
In Pittsfield, the company has two locations — office space on Kellogg Street and a larger facility on Elm Street. The statement does not say much about the future of the Pittsfield locations other than the closure of the lab. It is unclear how many positions will be lost or what will happen to either properties.
 
The move comes a month after one of the founders, Patrick Muraca, left the company. The board hired Don Pogorzelski as the new president and chief executive officer. At the time, Muraca said the company is "not leaving Pittsfield" in an interview.
 
The Pittsfield company has previously been lauded by state officials including the governor as examples of the state's emerging advanced manufacturing industry. The company was at one point envisioned to be a member of the Berkshire Innovation Center but later backed out. 
 
In 2014, it was announced that the company would receive $510,775 in state tax incentives from the Massachusetts Life Science Center. The incentive came with a provision that the company would create 25 jobs in 2014 and maintain them from five years. It is unclear what will or has happened with those funds. 
 
On Tuesday, Mayor Linda Tyer responded to the news expressing concern for those will be impacted by the closure.
 
"Naturally, we are saddened to learn of the closing of Nuclea Biotechnologies. The company played a vital role in the advancement of the sciences in the City of Pittsfield, and throughout Berkshire County. Our focus is set on ensuring that those who are directly impacted by the closure will have the necessary support and assistance they need to move forward through this difficult transition," Tyer said. 
 
"But as we look ahead, it is important to recognize the many successful small businesses that are still here, and that serve as the strength of our local economy. As a city, our focus is to create the optimum conditions for not only their success and viability, but for that of new businesses as well."
 
As of 5 p.m. Tuesday the company still have not responded to questions regarding further details of the closure or job lose.

 


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District Moving On From Allegations Against PHS Administrator

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The district is "moving on" from unsubstantiated allegations against two Pittsfield High School administrators, saying there is no threat.

Dean of Students Molly West returned to work last week after being put on leave in December. The Department of Children and Families has cleared West and Vice Principal Alison Shepard of misconduct claims that surfaced after another PHS dean was arrested and charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office for allegedly conspiring to traffic large quantities of cocaine.

School Committee Chair William Cameron on Wednesday emphasized that when such an investigation finds no evidence of wrongdoing, fundamental fairness and due process prohibits taking punitive action simply because of allegations. Reportedly, West was also investigated and cleared in the past.

"The circumstances of Mrs. West being placed on administrative leave don't need to be recited here," he said.

"Social media allegations made against her in December, which then regrettably were widely publicized, were not new. They had been heard, investigated, and found meritless by other school districts many years ago, nevertheless, they were disinterred recently by someone providing neither evidence nor a credible source and then reinvestigated twice in the last three months."

Senior Emma Goetze said she was "appalled, deeply disappointed, and frustrated that an administrator who has been placed on leave, someone who has caused significant discomfort and distress to so many students, has been allowed to return to our building."

"I understand that there is an investigation and acknowledge that this individual was cleared but it feels incredibly unjust to me and to many of my peers that despite everything, this person is being given the opportunity to come back," she said. "It's important to recognize that even though an investigation may have found no wrongdoing, that doesn't change the reality of how this individual's presence makes many students feel."

Investigations led by DCF and retired Superior Court Judge Mary-Lou Rup concluded that there is no evidence to substantiate the accusations.

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