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NSF Regenerative Medicine Engine

Workforce Development

Building North Carolina's regenerative medicine workforce, from K-12 classrooms to the executive suite

The NSF Regenerative Medicine Engine is expanding opportunities and engagement across the full career continuum. Programs introduce students to regenerative medicine careers, train technicians in the skills industry needs, give undergraduate and graduate students hands-on research experience and help founders and executives lead growing companies.

Our Impact

10,000+

Students exposed to regenerative medicine careers

1,408

Students and educators trained in regenerative medicine skills

118

Graduate and postdoctoral students engaged in Engine activities

107

Participants in internships, fellowships and research programs

76

Students in hands-on research programs

23

Founders and CEOs who gained entrepreneurial skills through the Founders Journey program

Across the Career Continuum

K-12

A new curriculum developed in collaboration with the North Carolina Association for Biomedical Research (NCABR).

Technical

New training programs, offered now or in development, built around skills gaps identified through industry surveys.

Undergraduate

A new bachelor’s degree program to be developed with Carolina University.

Graduate

Expanded hands-on research opportunities through the ITEC system.

Executives

A CEO Roundtable for executive-level networking and real-world knowledge sharing, and the new Biotechnology Executive Leadership Academy.

New Program

Biotechnology Executive Leadership Academy

From scientific discovery to commercial and organizational leadership

The Biotechnology Executive Leadership Academy, or BELA, is an executive education and workforce development program for biomedical researchers, faculty innovators and emerging biotechnology entrepreneurs. It helps participants make the transition from scientific discovery to successful commercialization and organizational leadership.

BELA at a Glance

BELA is built for working scientists. Every session is live and virtual, held one evening a week, so participants can take part without stepping away from the lab or the classroom.

16 weeks

Five three-week modules

5 modules

From business operations to regulatory strategy

90 minutes

One live virtual session each week

6 to 7:30 p.m.

Eastern time

Who Should Apply to BELA

Biomedical Researchers

Scientists who want to understand what it takes to move a discovery out of the lab and toward patients.

Faculty Innovators

Faculty members with inventions, patents or startup ideas who need the business, regulatory and manufacturing knowledge to advance them.

Emerging Entrepreneurs

Founders and early-stage biotechnology leaders preparing to build teams, raise funding and run an organization.

How Each Module Works

Each of the five modules runs for three consecutive weeks and follows the same executive education model. Participants leave every module with a working product they can use in their own research or venture.

1

Week 1

Executive Foundations

The essential concepts, frameworks and terminology for the topic.

2

Week 2

Industry Application

Case studies, practical applications and an interactive session with a regenerative medicine biotechnology executive. Participants begin an assignment that applies what they’ve learned to their own work.

3

Week 3

Strategic Application and Feedback

Participants present their work, receive feedback to refine it and close out the topic.

BELA Curriculum

Five modules, each led by an expert from North Carolina’s regenerative medicine and biotechnology community.

Module 1

Business Operations Fundamentals

James Woods, Ph.D.
Carolina University
What you'll learn
  • Business structures, governance and organizational management
  • Budgeting, financial management and operational planning
  • Human resources, contracts and risk management
What you'll build
A foundational operational plan for a biomedical venture.

Module 2

Biotechnology Commercialization

Jill Keith, Ph.D.
Winston-Salem State University
What you'll learn
  • Technology transfer, intellectual property and licensing
  • Market assessment, customer discovery and competitive positioning
  • Commercialization pathways, reimbursement and go-to-market strategy
What you'll build
An initial commercialization road map for a biomedical innovation.

Module 3

Entrepreneurship and Venture Development

Dan Cohen
Wake Forest University
What you'll learn
  • Biomedical startup formation and business models
  • Value propositions, business plans and entrepreneurial strategy
  • Building teams, partnerships and entrepreneurial networks
What you'll build
A startup concept and preliminary business model.

Module 4

Biomanufacturing Practices

Stephen Sawyer
ReMDO
What you'll learn
  • Manufacturing fundamentals and regenerative medicine production processes
  • Process development, scale-up and technology transfer
  • Supply chains, production economics and manufacturing readiness
What you'll build
An assessment of major manufacturing requirements and scale-up risks.

Module 5

Regulatory Strategy and Quality Systems

Steven Bauer, Ph.D.
ReMDO
What you'll learn
  • FDA regulatory pathways for biomedical products
  • Quality systems, good manufacturing practice (GMP) and regulatory compliance
  • Clinical development planning and regulatory risk management
What you'll build
A preliminary regulatory and quality strategy.

Join BELA's First Cohort

Applications for BELA’s first cohort are coming soon. For questions about the program, email info@regenmedengine.com.