Exploratory Science Center
History
History
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The Exploratory Science Center site was originally occupied by a [Schering\-Plough](/wiki/Schering-Plough "Schering-Plough") innovation research site, which opened in 2006 and focused on small molecule drugs.[2006\. "Schering\-Plough Expanding Discovery Operations in Cambridge, MA". Technology Networks.](https://www.technologynetworks.com/drug-discovery/news/scheringplough-expanding-discovery-operations-in-cambridge-ma-208474)[2006\. "Schering\-Plough expands presence in Cambridge". Boston Business Journal.](https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/mass-high-tech/2006/11/schering-plough-expands-presence-in-cambridge.html) The innovation research site became part of [Merck \& Co.](/wiki/Merck_%26_Co. "Merck & Co.") when it merged with [Schering\-Plough](/wiki/Schering-Plough "Schering-Plough") in 2009\.[2009\. "Merck, Schering\-Plough set to complete merger". Reuters.](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-merck-scheringplough/merck-schering-plough-set-to-complete-merger-idUSTRE5A23YZ20091103) Shortly after the merger, in 2010 [Merck \& Co.](/wiki/Merck_%26_Co. "Merck & Co.") announced the closure of their Cambridge research site, after which it was occupied by Idenix Pharmaceuticals.[2010\. "Merck to shut Cambridge research lab". Boston Herald.](https://www.bostonherald.com/2010/07/09/merck-to-shut-cambridge-research-lab/)[Sullivan, Thomas. 2010\. "Massachusetts Code of Conduct: Merck Closing Cambridge Massachusetts Research Facility". Policy \& Medicine.](https://www.policymed.com/2010/07/massachusetts-code-of-conduct-merck-closing-cambridge-massachusetts-research-facility.html)[Weisman, Robert. 2010\. "Merck will close lab in Kendall Sq.". The Boston Globe.](http://archive.boston.com/business/healthcare/articles/2010/07/09/merck_closing_lab_in_kendall_square/)

[Merck \& Co.](/wiki/Merck_%26_Co. "Merck & Co.") purchased the pharmaceutical company Idenix Pharmaceuticals in 2014 for $3\.85 billion.[Nickisch, Curt. 2014\. "Cambridge Biotech Firm Idenix Bought By Drug Giant Merck For $3\.85B". WBUR.](https://www.wbur.org/news/2014/06/09/merck-buys-idenix)[Fidler, Bill. 2014\. "Merck Scoops Up Idenix in $3\.85B Buyout". Xconomy.](https://xconomy.com/boston/2014/06/09/merck-scoops-up-idenix-in-2-85b-buyout/) The acquisition included its previously occupied research space in [Kendall Square](/wiki/Kendall_Square "Kendall Square"), a neighborhood within the [Biotechnology industry in Boston](/wiki/Biotechnology_industry_in_Boston "Biotechnology industry in Boston"). The 50,000 square foot space was converted to the current Exploratory Science Center space and began new operations in 2016 under the leadership of [Daria Hazuda](/wiki/Daria_Hazuda "Daria Hazuda").[Keown, Alex. 2016\. "Merck \& Co. Plans to Open Microbiome R\&D Site in Former Idenix Facility in Cambridge". BioSpace.](https://www.biospace.com/article/merck-and-co-plans-to-open-microbiome-r-and-d-site-in-former-idenix-facility-in-cambridge-/) This transition back to research in Cambridge came as part of Merck's east coast reorganization, in which employees were transitioned out of New Jersey and Pennsylvania sites, and repositioned in Cambridge, as well as some in the San Francisco Bay Area.[Terry, Mark. 2016\. "Merck \& Co. to Cut or Shift 360 East Coast Jobs, Add 100 in the Bay Area". BioSpace.](https://www.biospace.com/article/merck-and-co-to-cut-or-shift-360-east-coast-jobs-add-100-in-the-bay-area-/)[Loftus, Peter. 2016\. "Merck Cutting Drug Research Jobs at Three East\-Coast Sites". The Wall Street Journal.](https://www.wsj.com/articles/merck-co-cutting-drug-research-jobs-at-3-east-coast-sites-in-latest-shake-up-1468348275) The Exploratory Science Center sits as a major component to the parent company [Merck \& Co.](/wiki/Merck_%26_Co. "Merck & Co.") strategy of regional innovation hubs located in [Cambridge, Massachusetts](/wiki/Cambridge%2C_Massachusetts "Cambridge, Massachusetts"), [San Francisco](/wiki/San_Francisco "San Francisco"), and [London](/wiki/London "London").["Merck Plans Radical Overhaul of R\&D Unit". Drug Delivery and Development.](https://drug-dev.com/merck-plans-radical-overhaul-of-rd-unit/)

In 2022, Merck announced it would be expanding the Exploratory Science Center by hiring an additional 100 employees and adding 160,000 additional square feet to the Bent Street facility. [Rowan Walrath. 2022\. "Merck to hire another 100 at newly expanded Cambridge research lab". Boston Business Journals.](https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2022/05/25/merck-research-labs-cambridge-expansion-hiring.html) The site has capacity for 250 total scientists, and the expansion was paired with an extended remit for the site to include additional capability development as well as target identification and validation. 


What changes were made to the Bent Street facility in 2022, and what is their purpose?