One of the fastest growing intersections of biotechnology innovation and business in the nation – the RegenMed Hub – can be found in a bustling downtown where the world’s largest regenerative medicine research facility – the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) – anchors the south end of the Innovation Quarter district, which is focused on research, biomedical science education, and business.

Not far from WFIRM’s southeast corner of the district is the convergence of major highways that, along with Wake Forest’s partnership with Charlotte, NC-based Atrium Health, the third largest health care system in the nation, creates an innovation corridor with powerhouse potential. Innovation Quarter has become an epicenter of highly interactive science and technology that has added to the city’s growth as a result of collaborative leadership and vision.

Hub Initiatives

There are a number of ongoing efforts all focused on advancing regenerative medicine such as:

  • The RegenMed Development Organization (ReMDO), a non-profit foundation headquartered in Winston-Salem that is dedicated to advancing the field nationwide through programs it manages, which includes:
  • The Regenerative Manufacturing Innovation Consortium (RegMIC), and
  • The Regenerative Medicine Manufacturing Society (RMMS)
Regenerator logo

As a means of leveraging the resources developed by ReMDO, a new initiative called the RegeneratOR has been launched. This initiative consists of three parts:

  • ReMDO’s RegeneratOR Test Bed – seeks to assist regenerative medicine start-ups and growth companies with new and emerging technologies through access to advanced biomanufacturing equipment, talent, and programs to support prototyping and initial product development.

  • ReMDO’s RegeneratOR Innovation Accelerator– supports innovation from research to commercialization for regenerative medicine start-ups and growth companies by providing space and support, including market potential validation, benefit analysis, financial planning, budgeting, and comprehensive business plans.

  • ReMDO’s RegeneratOR Workforce Development– a resource that connects an educational ecosystem of colleges, university programs and technical schools with biomanufacturing staff, engineers, and research leaders. With access to training programs across the members of the Regenerative Medicine Manufacturing Society (RMMS) and the Regenerative Manufacturing Innovation Consortium (RegMIC), and world class talent, regenerative medicine enterprises can rely on a pool of newly-educated individuals, or existing employees who can skill-up with short term courses.

  • ReMDO’s RegeneratOR Clinical Trials Catalyst– enables research teams and regenerative medicine companies with potential therapies to access patients for FDA human clinical trials. The Catalyst has access to 5.5 million patients, serving 67 hospitals and more than 1,000 outpatient facilities.

  • ReMDO’s RegeneratOR Regulatory Navigator– a groundbreaking space aimed at providing unparalleled regulatory and scientific counsel to product developers navigating the complexities of the regenerative medicine pipeline. The Regulatory NavigatOR is poised to offer invaluable guidance to researchers and industry members at every stage of translation, offering assistance in understanding and engaging with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from inception to market approval. With a focus on pre-submission strategies and support throughout early and late-stage product development, the NavigatOR will be instrumental in streamlining regulatory processes and facilitating successful interactions with the FDA.

A number of regenerative medicine start-ups and established companies already operate in the region at the intersection of bioscience innovation and business, offering expansive resources for entrepreneurs and life science professionals.

The engine driving the growth of the RegenMed Hub is the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM).