bluebird bio, Inc.

840 Memorial Drive, 4^th Floor

Cambridge, MA 02139

VIA EDGAR AND FACSIMILE

June 14, 2013

United States Securities and Exchange Commission

Division of Corporation Finance

100 F Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20549

Attention: Jeffrey P. Riedler

 

Re:	bluebird bio, Inc.

Form S-1 Registration Statement

File No. 333-188605

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Pursuant to Rule 461 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), bluebird bio, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby requests that the effective date of the above-referenced registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) be accelerated to June 18, 2013, at 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, or as soon thereafter as practicable, unless we or our outside counsel, Goodwin Procter LLP, request by telephone that such Registration Statement be declared effective at some other time. In making this acceleration request, the Company acknowledges that it is aware of its responsibilities under the Act.

Once the Registration Statement is effective, please orally confirm the event with our counsel Goodwin Procter LLP by calling Michael H. Bison at (617) 570-1933. We also respectfully request that a copy of the written order from the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) verifying the effective time and date of the Registration Statement be sent to our counsel Goodwin Procter LLP Attention: Michael H. Bison by facsimile to (617) 321-4370.

In connection with the foregoing, the Company hereby acknowledges the following:

 

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should the Commission or the staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, declare the Registration Statement effective, it does not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the Registration Statement;

 

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the action of the Commission or the staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, in declaring the Registration Statement effective, does not relieve the Company from its full responsibility for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the Registration Statement; and

 

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the Company may not assert staff comments and the declaration of effectiveness as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States.

If you have any questions regarding this request, please contact Michael H. Bison of Goodwin Procter LLP at (617) 570-1933.

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cc:	Jeffrey T. Walsh, bluebird bio, Inc.

Michael H. Bison, Esq., Goodwin Procter LLP