Winston-Salem Lab Offering Free Access to Test Bed to Support Regenerative Medicine Startups

Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) operates a 2,500-square-foot laboratory in downtown Winston-Salem that serves as a test bed for startups in the regenerative medicine sector. The facility is part of the Regenerative Medicine Engine and is available at no cost to startups, providing access to advanced equipment donated by large companies.

“Startup companies and emerging companies from all over the country and the world can use this test bed for free to help them prototype their product for manufacturing,” said Anthony Atala, M.D., WFIRM’s director and chair of urology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

The facility also supports manufacturing equipment suppliers, enabling direct feedback from end users. Atala noted during WFIRM’s recent public event that this arrangement benefits both startups and suppliers: “The startups are saving early, precious cash when they need it most,” he said. “The suppliers with manufacturing equipment get that one-to-one interaction with the end user so they can make a better [version] 2.0.”

The test bed contributes to the Piedmont Triad region’s growing reputation as a leader in regenerative medicine. In addition to WFIRM and ReMDO, the Regenerative Medicine Engine includes partners such as Forsyth Technical Community College, North Carolina A&T State University, Winston-Salem State University, and the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. With more than 150 member and partner organizations, it is the nation’s first regional innovation hub focused on regenerative medicine.

The National Science Foundation awarded $15 million in initial funding to the WFIRM-led team to build this ecosystem of startups, suppliers, educational institutions, nonprofits, and other partners. The Regenerative Medicine Engine reports that it has attracted $270 million in regional investment and created over 20 new jobs in its first year.

Companies using the test bed have benefited from access to a range of advanced equipment and support. Epredia, a diagnostics technology company, developed a clinical trial at the test bed that led to FDA clearance of its E1000 Dx digital scanner. Ramona Optics, an advanced imaging company based in Durham, launched its Vireo live-cell imaging system after beta testing and gathering feedback at the facility.

WFIRM researcher and test bed manager Stephen Cutie explained that the test bed helps startups avoid major upfront investments in expensive equipment, allowing them to conduct complex evaluations and workflows that would otherwise be financially prohibitive.

Atala also highlighted the rapid growth in demand for the facility. “To our surprise, within three months [of opening], the space that we allocated was entirely gone,” he said. “These companies started coming in from all over the globe to use the facilities that are here in our backyard.”

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