An NSF Regional Innovation Engine
Making North Carolina the place regenerative medicine gets built
The NSF Regenerative Medicine Engine in North Carolina helps companies turn regenerative medicine research into manufactured, approved products, and trains the workforce to make them.
The NSF Regenerative Medicine Engine in North Carolina is one of the inaugural NSF Regional Innovation Engines, supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under award NSF-2315654. It is led by the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine.
Our Impact
250+
Partners across the state and nation
720+
Jobs created
1,500+
People trained in regenerative medicine skills
40+
Regenerative medicine companies relocated to North Carolina
101
New companies used Engine services in 2025
$300M
In investment capital generated in the Engine’s first two years
Source: U.S. National Science Foundation. Figures as of 2025.
Innovation Accelerator
Land your company steps from the Test Bed
The Innovation Accelerator offers offices and shared lab space in the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine building in Winston-Salem’s Innovation Quarter, on flexible month-to-month terms, with easy access to the Test Bed and the institute’s research cores.
Why It Matters
Only an estimated 10% of U.S.-produced cell and gene technologies reach the market. The science is often sound. What’s missing is the regulatory guidance, manufacturing capacity, workforce and capital to move a product to patients.
The Engine builds that infrastructure in North Carolina, so companies can develop, de-risk and manufacture here, and so the jobs they create stay here.
Our Goals
- Bring real-world technologies from lab to life
- Build a skilled workforce for the future
- Strengthen U.S. leadership in biomanufacturing
- Generate new investment and public-private partnerships
- Create high-paying jobs
“This initiative doesn’t just support science—it supports lives, livelihoods, and the leadership of our country on the global stage.”
— Dr. Anthony Atala, chief innovation officer of the Regenerative Medicine Engine and director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine
Ecosystem Services
Joining the ecosystem is free. These five services help companies move regenerative medicine technologies from the lab to the market.
Evaluate your technology with specialized research instruments, biological models and scientific expertise, including more than $12 million in equipment.
Get presubmission strategy and regulatory guidance from former FDA regenerative medicine leaders, including a former FDA branch chief.
Reach a statewide clinical network of 67 hospitals and more than 1,000 outpatient sites through one IRB and one contract process.
Find and build talent through programs that run from K-12 classrooms and technician training to executive leadership.
Set up in office and shared lab space in the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine building, steps from the Test Bed.
Membership is free for organizations that develop, manufacture or invest in regenerative medicine.
Find Your Path
Locate, prototype, test and scale in North Carolina.
Test Bed access, regulatory guidance and trial support for academic teams.
Meet companies de-risking their technologies with Engine support.
Training, apprenticeships and jobs in regenerative medicine.
Join more than 250 organizations building the ecosystem.
Our mission, leadership, strategy and impact.
Latest News
Registration open for RegMIC 2026, Dec. 1-2 in Charlotte
The 11th Annual RegMIC Conference is Dec. 1-2 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Charlotte. Representatives of ARPA-H, BARDA, DTRA,...
Read MoreFree Bioprocessing Course at UNC Pembroke, Dec. 7-18
Dec. 7-18, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. | UNC Pembroke Biotechnology Research and Training Center UNC Pembroke is offering a free bioprocessing...
Read MoreWake Forest Biomedical Job and Internship Fair, Dec. 4, Winston-Salem
Dec. 4, noon-3 p.m. | 575 N. Patterson Ave., Winston-Salem Wake Forest’s Biomedical Graduate Programs host a job and internship...
Read MoreEcosystem Partners
Core partners: Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, North Carolina A&T State University, Winston-Salem State University, Forsyth Technical Community College and RegenMed Development Organization (ReMDO).
Supporting organizations include Axiom Space, Epredia, Oracle, Greater Winston-Salem Inc. and Piedmont Triad municipalities.
Get the Weekly Ecosystem Update
News, funding opportunities and partner announcements from North Carolina’s regenerative medicine ecosystem, every Monday.