Regions
Employers Benefit From The Tight Knit, Entrepreneurial Ecosystem That Thrives In Virginia.
Northern Virgnia
Northern Virginia is next door to our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. with close proximity to federal resources like the NIH, USPTO and the FDA. Northern Virginia consists of the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William and several independent cities. It is the most populated region in Virginia and the Washington metropolitan area with more than 2 million residents.
Life Science Focuses
Focus areas for biomedical and life sciences activities include Personalized Medicine, proteomics, molecular biology, nanotechnology, biodefense, cancer, health technology, and infectious diseases like Zika, HIV, Lyme Disease and Influenza.
- Prince William Science Accelerator
- George Mason University Science and Technology Campus
- HHMI Janelia Research Campus
- AI and data driven cancer therapy recommendations
Life Science Companies
Companies in the area include ATCC, a biological resource and research center that preserves and distributes cultures to the international scientific community; Mediatech – A Corning Life Science Company manufacturing sterile solutions ranging from cell culture media to molecular biology reagents; Vibrent Health, creating data-driven and evidence-based solutions for preventing, monitoring, diagnosing and treating diseases; Ceres Nanosciences, with it’s patented Nanotrap technology; K2M, global leader of complex spine and minimally invasive solutions; and Tentamus North America, a global product safety company that tests, audits and consults on all products involving the human body.
Other area companies are Aperiomics, CEL-SCI, e-Kare, Vidrio Technologies, and EVS Glaucoma.
Workforce
George Mason University has three campuses, Fairfax, Arlington and it’s Science and Technology Campus in Prince William County, which primarily focuses on research and academic programs in the life sciences, including bioscience, biotechnology and bioinformatics. The campus features a state-of-the-art Biomedical Research Laboratory and the recently launched Institute for Advanced Biomedical Research, a multidisciplinary facility that will pursue some of the toughest medical questions facing society. Anchored at the University Center in Ashburn is the George Washington University Science and Technology Campus. Virginia Tech has seven facilities in the area, including the Marion Dupont Scott Equine Medical Center in Leesburg, and the Virginia Tech Research Center in Arlington. In addition, Northern Virginia Community College Biotechnology Program provides skills relevant in the current job market.
Research and Innovation
The Inova Center for Personalized Health, in Fairfax, has partnered with the Commonwealth of Virginia, Virginia’s leading research universities, and innovative healthcare companies to expand access to cutting-edge genomic screening and assessments. The Inova Translational Medicine Institute (ITMI) applies genomic and clinical information from individuals to develop innovative methods for personalized healthcare. HHMI Janelia Research Campus uses integrated teams of lab scientists and tool-builders pursue a small number of scientific questions with potential for transformative impact, then shares their methods, results, and tools with the scientific community.
Resources
Situated in Innovation Park, the Prince William Science Accelerator features 9 fully built out, commercially available wet labs – the only commercially available wet lab space in Northern Virginia. The Inova Personalized Health Accelerator helps companies develop and execute plans of action that achieve significant milestones in value creation, risk mitigation, and capital formation. Inova Strategic Investments targets early to mid-stage companies interested in partnering to deploy their solutions across the Inova Health System. To learn more, contact Prince William County Economic Development, or Loudoun County Economic Development.
Greater Richmond
Greater Richmond includes Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico counties, along with the city of Richmond. The population of the Richmond Metro Statistical Area (MSA) is nearly 1.3 million and a growing international community adds to the area’s cultural diversity and cosmopolitan character.
Life Science Focuses
Focus areas include pharma manufacturing, consumer drug products, drug development, contract research organizations, traumatic brain injury, addiction and pain, medtech, medical product distribution.
- Altria Center for Research and Technology and Innovation Park
- GSK Consumer Healthcare
- Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services
- Polykon breaking ground in Henrico County
Life Science Companies
Pharmaceutical companies GSK and Indivior, manufacturers Fareva and Polykon, contract research organizations PPD and AI Biotech, FujiFilm Wako Chemicals US, and healthcare logistics and medical suppliers McKesson and Owens & Minor, all operate in the area. Altria Center for Research and Technology and the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the nation’s organ transplant management system, are also located here.
Locally grown successful companies include Kaleo, Cupron, Nutriati and ImmunArray.
Workforce
Graduating more than 4000 life science students annually, Virginia Commonwealth University is a “Top 100” life sciences research center. Speciality schools include Pharmacology and Toxicology, Pharmaceutics, Medicinal Chemistry, the Center for Study of Biological Complexity, the Center for Clinical and Translation Research, Massey Cancer Center, the Institute of Engineering and Medicine, the VCU School of Medicine and the recent addition of the Medicines for All Institute. The VCU da Vinci Center for Innovation offers a model that advances interdisciplinary innovation and technology-based entrepreneurship.
Research and Innovation
Cutting edge research is also being performed at the Virginia Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services, which provides around-the-clock, high quality analytical testing services and support to local, state and federal agencies; and Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center. VCU Innovation Gateway facilitates commercialization of inventions from the university.
Resources
The VA Bio+Tech Park, located on a 34-acre complex in downtown Richmond is home to nearly 70 companies, research institutes, state/federal laboratories. Activation Capital is a hub of information for entrepreneurs. For more information, please contact the Greater Richmond Partnership.
Charlottesville / Albemarle
Charlottesville and Albemarle County are located in west Central Virginia, approximately 100 miles southwest of Washington, D.C. and 70 miles northwest of Richmond. Situated within the upper Piedmont Plateau, at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and at the headwaters of the Rivanna River, Charlottesville serves as the economic, cultural, and educational center of a multi-county region in Central Virginia with an SMSA population of over 200,000.
Life Science Focuses
Focus areas for biomedical and life sciences activities include Medical Devices and instrumentation, NASH, Cancer, Epilepsy, Essential Tremor, addiction, bioinformatics, enzymes, contract research and contract manufacturing.
- Lewis and Clark Pharmaceuticals
- iLab at University of Virginia
- UVa Research Park
- Indoor Biotechnologies
Life Science Companies
Area companies include BIO-CAT with the latest enzyme technology and custom formulations; HemoShear, using proprietary human disease models to discover novel biological targets and developing drugs; Diffusion Pharmaceuticals, focused on improving the results of cancer treatments; Caretaker Medical with it’s innovative wireless vital sign monitoring, contract research organization PRA Health Sciences: contract manufacturer Afton Scientific; and Cavion a therapeutic company conducting trials for epilepsy and essential tremors.
AMPEL Bio Solutions, Adial Pharmaceuticals, Indoor Biotechnologies, Brigtspec and Contraline are some of the other companies located in the area.
Workforce
A major research institution, with sponsored research awards totaling more than $338 million annually, the University of Virginia is located in the heart of Charlottesville. The UVa-Coulter Translational Research Partnership is a $20M program that funds cutting edge biomedical technologies. Nationally ranked and NCI desginated UVa Cancer Center has members in five different research programs (Cancer Cell Signaling; Chemical and Structural Biology; Immunology and Immunotherapy; Molecular Genetics and Epigenetics; and Women’s Oncology) and a developing program (Cancer Control and Population Health). The Biotechnology Training Program is one of 23 NIGMS supported programs nationwide and the only one in Virginia. The Monticello High School Health and Medical Sciences Academy is designed to prepare students for post-secondary education and the workforce.
Research and Innovation
Focused Ultrasound Foundation is a global non-profit accelerating the development of new applications for focused ultrasound. The W.L. Lyons Brown III Innovation Laboratory, or i.Lab at UVA, supports entrepreneurs providing programs, funding, workspace, mentors, community, and additional resources to accelerate new ventures. Open Bio Labs hosts classes and workshops to educate and train people in the biosciences.
Resources
The 562-acre University of Virginia Research Park provides facilities that serve as a catalyst for the creation and enhancement of research and business collaboration between the University the public and private sectors. The $10 million UVA LVG Seed Fund invests in companies founded to commercialize UVA intellectual property, and is managed by UVA Licensing and Ventures Group which partners with faculty, entrepreneurs, and investors to bring UVa innovations into the marketplace. CvilleBioHub provides pathways for growth and promotes the area as a center for life sciences.
Hampton Roads
The Virginia Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), also known as Hampton Roads, is the 36th largest metropolitan area in the U.S. The MSA encompasses 15 cities and counties with a population of 1.7 million people and a workforce of approximately 850,000.
Life Science Focuses
Focus areas for biomedical and life sciences activities include diabetes, reproductive health, regenerative medicine, cardiology, urology, cancer, piezo-electrics, and photon therapies.
- Hampton University Proton Therapy
- TCC Regional Health Professions
- ivWatch Model 400
- W&M VA Institute for Marine Science
Life Science Companies
Companies in the area include the headquarters of LifeNet Health and it’s Institute of Regenerative Medicine, dedicated to the development of new cell-based technologies designed to improve tissue and bone repair procedures; Canon U.S. Life Sciences, developing solutions for clinical diagnostics and infectious disease diagnosis; Sentara Health System; with it’s top rated Sentara Heart Hospital; CIRS, a leader in the manufacturer of tissue equivalent phantoms and simulators for medical imaging, radiation therapy and procedural training.
Dilon Technologies, Soluble Systems, ivWatch, Embody. and Sanyal Biotechnologies are only some of the other companies located in Hampton Roads.
Workforce
The Hampton Roads region is home to several major educational institutions with life science programs. William & Mary, with it’s Virginia Institute for Marine Science. Old Dominion University has the Center for Biotechnology, School of Medical and Translational Sciences, and the Frank Reidy Center for Bioelectrics. Eastern Virginia Medical School, includes the Jones Institute for Reproductive Health, the National Center for Collaboration in Medical Modeling and Simulation, the Laser and Plasma Engineering Institute, and the Strelitz Diabetes Center. Hampton University has the world class affiliated Proton Therapy Institute, and the Center For Advanced Medical Instrumentation. Christopher Newport University and Norfolk State University also have life science related programs.
Research and Innovation
The area is also home to research institutes like the NASA Langley Research Center and Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator, with it’s unique particle accelerator. Office and lab space is available in the VABeachBio Research Park, Bio Accelerator and the Innovation Research Park at ODU.
Resources
To learn more about the region, please visit VaBeachBio, or the Virginia Beach Economic Development Department.
Southwest Virginia
Located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Southwest Virginia encompasses both the Roanoke and Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford Metropolitan Statistical Areas, with a total population in excess of 500,000.
Life Science Focuses
Focus Areas include neuroscience, neurobiology, heart disease, Regenerative medicine, Cancer, addiction and substance abuse, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, plant science, infectious and vector-borne diseases.
- Virginia Tech Fralin Life Science Institute
- TechLab’s 30 minute E. Histo Diagnostic
- VTC Fralin Biomedical Research Institute
- Revivcor: World’s first cloned pigs
Life Science Companies
Companies in the area include TechLab which develops and manufactures intestinal diagnostics worldwide; CELLINK has a patent pending bioink that enables human cells to grow as they would in the natural human body environment; Novozymes Biologicals produces microbial based formulations for industrial, consumer and agriculture uses; American Biosystems produces direct fed microbials and enzymes for animal feed, industry, wastewater treatment, and sanitary wastes; Leone Bioventures is a natural products development company working on bio-pesticides; Polymer Solutions, an independent lab for materials testing of polymers, plastics, metals, gases, and more; Revivicor, a regenerative medicine company produces pig islets, organs, and medical devices aimed at human clinical applications; Landos Biopharma has identified a novel therapeutic target for autoimmune diseases; and Inorganic Ventures a manufacturer of analytical inorganic standards and custom reference materials for ICP, ICP-MS, atomic absorption and ion chromatography applications.
Workforce
Virginia Tech has $515 million in annual research expenditures. The Biocomplexity Institute uses information biology to predict, explain, and visualize the behavior of massively interacting systems. Fralin Life Science Institute is an investment institute committed to supporting research, education, and outreach life sciences. The Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science (ICTAS) focuses on emerging technologies at the intersections of engineering, the humanities, and the physical, life, and social sciences. The Virginia Tech – Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering & Sciences (SBES) is a fully joint graduate program, which brings together three prestigious academic institutions: the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, the Wake Forest School of Medicine, and the VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. The Edward Via College Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) offers multidisciplinary biomedical, clinical, and community-based research to improve human health. Virginia Western Community College‘s Biotechnology career studies certificate program is designed to help students acquire additional skills to gain employment in the fields of Biotechnology, health sciences, or scientific research.
Research and Innovation
Virginia Tech Carilion (VTC) is a unique public-private partnership encompassing the VTC Fralin Biomedical Research Institute. Research conducted at the institute creates a bridge between basic science research at Virginia Tech and clinical expertise at Carilion Clinic and increases translational research opportunities for both partners. RAMP (Regional Acceleration and Mentoring Program) is a new technology business accelerator program for the Roanoke-Blacksburg region to propel high-potential startups to expand and create jobs in the STEM-H.
Resources
The VTC Innovation Fund invests in early stage life sciences and high growth technology companies. Although the VTC Innovation Fund will focus on Central and Southwest Virginia, it will pursue high growth opportunities across the state of Virginia. Valleys’ Ventures invest in companies that intend to commence operations in, or are willing to relocate to the area and is managed by local venture capital firm Third Security. The Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center (VTCRC) is home to over 180 research, technology and support companies.