Piedmont Triad Regenerative Medicine Engine (North Carolina and South Carolina), led by the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, aims to cultivate breakthroughs in health care by providing the resources necessary to accelerate the transition of use-inspired regenerative medicine technologies into commercial products. Growth in this industry will help address long-term challenges related to retraining and upskilling the local workforce by developing a technical infrastructure for historically Black colleges and universities in the region to reduce disparities for underrepresented groups in science, technology, engineering and math fields.
Region of service: Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point, North Carolina (Piedmont Triad).
Competitive advantage: The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) is the world's largest regenerative medicine research facility and is recognized as an international leader in translating scientific discovery into clinical therapies. WFIRM has achieved many world firsts, including the development and implantation of the first engineered organ in a patient. This NSF Engine will accelerate transition of use-inspired regenerative medicine technologies into commercial products, creating an economic driver for the region and its diverse communities. Several regenerative medicine start-ups and established companies already operate in the region. This growth in the regenerative medicine industry helps to address long-term regional challenges related to retraining and upskilling of an underemployed local workforce left behind by the loss of tobacco, textiles and furniture jobs throughout the region.
NSF award: NSF- 2315654
| Key technology areas |
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| Biotechnology, advanced materials, artificial intelligence, robotics and advanced manufacturing. |