Southeastern NC
In the Southeast, we’re discovering the secrets to more nutritious and easier-to-produce food, greener fuel and better healthcare.
Specific examples include:
- tapping into vast ocean resources for new health products, food sources, and energy,
- looking to plants as new sources of medicines or foods with enhanced nutrition,
- converting waste into energy and transportation fuel,
- discovering new ways for farmers’ crops to survive a drought,
- using advanced medical devices to improve people’s lives,
- developing non-food sources of bio-diesel, ethanol and other alternative energies, and
- expediting the process of moving new medicines from labs to patients.
Local Companies Extend Operations Around the Globe
The headquarters for PPD, a clinical research organization, stands prominently in downtown Wilmington. The company was founded as a one-person consulting firm by Dr. Frederic N. Eshelman in 1985. Since then, PPD has expanded its services, technologies, and geographic reach to over 30 countries. The company employs more than 10,500 people – including 2,000 in North Carolina.
PPD is the largest company in the impressive local cluster of worldwide CROs with headquarters or an office in Wilmington. aaiPharma, Inc., Quality Chemical Laboratories, Quintiles, Kendle, Osmotica, Inclinix and Wilmington Pharmaceuticals also accelerate the delivery of life-changing drugs to patients worldwide.
Biotechnology Events and Networking Groups Encourage Frequent Exchange of Ideas
Southeastern North Carolina promotes local and international collaboration through a number of biotechnology events and networking groups. Networking between scientists, entrepreneurs, community leaders and investors lead to new projects, collaborative partnerships and entrepreneurial ventures.
- The NC Marine Biotechnology Symposium showcases international marine biotechnology research and commercialization.
- The Biotech for Business Leaders series encourages research collaboration and economic development across traditional boundaries of science and business.
- The Biopharmaceutical Development Regional Exchange Group builds connections between local CRO companies, physician networks, investors, and others to build the local CRO cluster and to enhance physician-led clinical trials.
- Action Teams focus on economic development opportunities in the region and include researchers, educators, economic developers, elected officials, and management assistance providers. The AgBiotech Action Team focuses on rural economic development with an agricultural biotechnology focus. The Marine Biotechnology Action Team focuses on commercialization of ideas from a wide range of marine biotechnology research areas.
- Bluefields builds connections between researchers, technology transfer representatives, and entrepreneurs focused on research and commercialization in all aspects of marine and freshwater biotechnology, including fish farming, algaculture and pharmaceutical development.
Range of Educational Opportunities Builds Well-Rounded Workforce
Looking to become an agricultural biotechnology technician or earn your marine biotechnology-focused MBA? Southeastern North Carolina provides numerous unique biotechnology-related educational opportunities.
- Fayetteville State University and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke award bachelor’s degrees in biotechnology.
- The University of North Carolina Wilmington offers biology, biochemistry, chemistry and several marine-science majors.
- The Business of Marine Biotechnology program at the University of North Carolina Wilmington tightens the link between research and commercialization, with marine-science post-doctoral fellows earning an MBA while conducting research.
- BioNetwork, the state’s community-college training program that teaches the specific skills needed for biotechnology jobs supports Brunswick, Robeson and Southeastern community colleges—three campuses which offer certificate and associate-degree training, while also generating new ideas with commercial potential in biofuels, marine biotechnology, and agriculture. The BioNetwork’s BioAgriculture Center, based at Robeson Community College in Lumberton, is focused on training technicians and technologists in agricultural biotechnology.
