Health Board Approves Biotech Lab Permit

Board of Health · Meeting of February 18, 2026

WATERTOWN — The Watertown Board of Health voted unanimously to approve a biosafety permit for Sydenham Inc., a startup planning DNA-manufacturing lab work at 200 Dexter Avenue. Founder Zane Jafar told the board the company would use only biosafety level one E. coli strains and that Cambridge Scientific Labs' Biosafety Committee had already signed off. "So ultimately making less or growing less bacteria is what our technology aims to do," Jafar said.

Staff member Abby reported the department fielded 708 investigated complaints in 2025, issued 201 food permits, and emptied its new sharps kiosk nine or ten times since its July 1 launch. One of seven rabies samples sent to the state came back positive. Abby urged residents with no heat for more than 24 hours to call immediately, and the board set its next meeting for March 18.

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Source: the Board of Health meeting of February 18, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.