Who Is Funding the Science That's Too Early for Venture Capital?
April 22, 2026
Marine Biological Laboratory
#58 in Institutes and Centers
58Institution Overview
Overall
Ranking
58
55
Rank in
Research Capabilities
46
Rank in
Entrepreneurial Readiness
57
Rank in
Market Translation
Woods Hole, MA
The Marine Biological Laboratory ranks 58th among the 60 biomedical institutes in the Cure Innovation Index and is located in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Across Research Capabilities, Market Translation, and Entrepreneurial Readiness, the laboratory occupies a developing position within its category, with performance below the median across all three domains. Founded in 1888, the laboratory has long drawn scientists from across disciplines to its coastal campus for summer research programs and collaborative investigation. Its profile reflects an identity shaped more by foundational science than by commercial translation or venture infrastructure.
Ranking Metrics
Research Capabilities
Marine Biological Laboratory ranked below average for Research Capabilities, a measure of the foundational infrastructure and resources that enable an institution to conduct high-quality, innovative science. Out of the factors in this category, Marine Biological Laboratory fared best in Funding Support.
Learn MoreEntrepreneurial Readiness
Marine Biological Laboratory ranked below average for Entrepreneurial Readiness, a measure of whether the institution has built a supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurship and whether faculty are engaged in and incentivized toward commercial activity. Out of the factors in this category, Marine Biological Laboratory fared best in Ecosystem Support.
Learn MoreMarket Translation
Marine Biological Laboratory ranked below average for Market Translation, a measure of how effectively a research institution moves scientific discovery out of the lab and into real-world clinical and commercial applications. Out of the factors in this category, Marine Biological Laboratory fared best in Industry Reputation.
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Cure Innovation Index Methodology
From a pool of more than 6,000 institutions, the top 303 were ranked using two dozen indicators — from scientific foundation and lab infrastructure to patents, products, and partnerships — drawn from more than a dozen federal and commercial databases, an original audit of all institutions, and surveys of more than 3,300+ scientists, industry leaders, and biomedical experts.
Insights From the Cure Innovation Index
Explore by Category
Innovation isn't a single moment — it's an entire ecosystem. The Index evaluates institutions across two dozen indicators, grouped in three core domains that reveal the full picture of what it takes to turn groundbreaking science into real-world impact.
