Case Study: Massachusetts Life Sciences Center achieves a scalable, no-code grants management system with SmartSimple Cloud

How MLSC built a Grants Management System without writing a single line of code

Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC), a $1 billion public–private partnership that has invested more than $575 million to support life‑sciences research and job creation, was hampered by a fragile, custom-built grants system that required a single developer for every change, lacked basic security and automation, and frustrated applicants and reviewers. To address these limits, MLSC selected SmartSimple Cloud (SmartSimple Cloud for Research Grants Management) as a configurable, supported replacement.

SmartSimple Cloud enabled MLSC to rebuild its grants workflows and reviewer portal without writing a single line of code, add secure logins, draft saving, bulk review assignment, and a Task Tracker for transparent change management. The result is a cleaner, more reliable, and user-friendly platform with responsive Community Support, in-house ability to make ongoing modifications, and a scalable system that now manages MLSC’s $575M+ in grant investments—eliminating costly developer dependency.

Massachusetts Life Sciences Center

Ryan Mudawar

Director of Academic and Workforce Programs