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Matt Gardner serves as President for CBRE’s Life Sciences Sector within its Enterprise business. In this role, he leads strategic growth and client engagement for the sector, leveraging his deep relationships with CBRE professionals across life sciences hubs and emerging markets to advise clients on their real estate needs, both domestic and international.
A veteran of more than 30 years in the technology and life sciences sectors, Mr. Gardner most recently led CBRE’s Advisory Life Science practice in the U.S. He is based in North Carolina.
Before joining CBRE in March 2022, Mr. Gardner served as CEO and co-founder of the California Biomanufacturing Center, a 500-acre industrial park in Northern California with a mix of multinational manufacturing stakeholders and a range of investment partners. CBC's innovative practices included highly selective allowable uses, a first-in-class zoning strategy, and a governance structure designed to become an enduring community fixture.
Prior to CBC, Mr. Gardner served in the Biosciences Area of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, developing a pathbreaking biofoundry center of excellence.
Mr. Gardner previously served as a first employee, founder, and board member of a range of life sciences startups, including spin-offs of cancer company CollabRx and monoclonal pioneer Xoma, SageLegion, Cornerstone, and the Patent & License Exchange, and others.
Mr. Gardner previously served as CEO of the life sciences cluster organizations BayBio and MarylandBio, supporting hundreds of growing life sciences companies in the process.
In addition, Mr. Gardner has served as chair and a member of boards including Seeding Labs, a Boston nonprofit dedicated to building science capacity around the world; the Exploratorium, a science museum in Northern California; and at Johns Hopkins University. For more than a decade, Mr. Gardner produced the NPR show Biotech Nation. He has contributed to publications including the Journal of Commercial Biotechnology, Startup Magazine, and Medtech Insight.
He is the author of numerous publications on the life sciences ecosystem, including “California Tool Works” and the award-winning series of BayBioIMPACT annual reports.
A veteran of more than 30 years in the technology and life sciences sectors, Mr. Gardner most recently led CBRE’s Advisory Life Science practice in the U.S. He is based in North Carolina.
Before joining CBRE in March 2022, Mr. Gardner served as CEO and co-founder of the California Biomanufacturing Center, a 500-acre industrial park in Northern California with a mix of multinational manufacturing stakeholders and a range of investment partners. CBC's innovative practices included highly selective allowable uses, a first-in-class zoning strategy, and a governance structure designed to become an enduring community fixture.
Prior to CBC, Mr. Gardner served in the Biosciences Area of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, developing a pathbreaking biofoundry center of excellence.
Mr. Gardner previously served as a first employee, founder, and board member of a range of life sciences startups, including spin-offs of cancer company CollabRx and monoclonal pioneer Xoma, SageLegion, Cornerstone, and the Patent & License Exchange, and others.
Mr. Gardner previously served as CEO of the life sciences cluster organizations BayBio and MarylandBio, supporting hundreds of growing life sciences companies in the process.
In addition, Mr. Gardner has served as chair and a member of boards including Seeding Labs, a Boston nonprofit dedicated to building science capacity around the world; the Exploratorium, a science museum in Northern California; and at Johns Hopkins University. For more than a decade, Mr. Gardner produced the NPR show Biotech Nation. He has contributed to publications including the Journal of Commercial Biotechnology, Startup Magazine, and Medtech Insight.
He is the author of numerous publications on the life sciences ecosystem, including “California Tool Works” and the award-winning series of BayBioIMPACT annual reports.