When you are trying to make a city a destination for starting and growing life science companies, the proof is in the pudding–or in the hydrogels. In Winston-Salem, that proof is everywhere: companies in the Innovation Quarter are pushing scientific discovery forward as the city’s life science ecosystem continues to expand.
Over the past few years, the number of life science and biotechnology companies in the innovation district have blossomed. In fact, in the past 18 months alone, 15 life science companies have either moved into the iQ, renewed lab and office space, or grown while being in the innovation district.
“The life science companies in the iQ are either growing here or they’re coming in to be around the regenerative medicine cluster developing here,” says Isaac Perry.
Perry is the head of biotech and life science ecosystem development, a dual position between the Innovation Quarter and Greater Winston-Salem Inc. He assists biotech and life science companies in the iQ with economic development opportunities, connecting companies with potential investors or pointing them toward key resources. Perry also helps recruit businesses to come to the iQ.
“We’ve seen organic growth in the life science sector. Some companies in the iQ are increasing headcount and need to find new space,” Perry says. “We’re also seeing a number of inbound companies, many of which are coming via the NSF Regenerative Medicine Engine.”
As more businesses join the ecosystem, Perry’s position increasingly becomes about helping companies find the right physical fit. Because to locate or grow here, you need space.
“I’ve been a lot more focused on infrastructure and capacity expansion to meet the needs of tenants that are either moving in or growing and need new space,” Perry says
He leads Sparq Labs, affordable and flexible biotechnology lab spaces for rent, and is heavily involved with the redevelopment of the former Linden Center. These two projects are key in creating the space that growing companies need.
In his role, Perry gets to interact with all the life science tenants in the iQ, and he shares some of the ones that he expects to see big things from in 2026.
As the ecosystem continues to grow, here are nine life science companies in the iQ to keep your eye on in 2026:
BioSpherix
BioSpherix is a pioneering manufacturer of advanced cell and tissue culture systems designed to optimize cell growth and care. Biomanufacturing is governed by strict regulations that often require multiple cleanrooms and complex workflows, making compliance costly, drawn-out, and space-intensive. BioSpherix addresses these challenges with modular and portable environmental control systems that precisely regulate the processing environment while significantly reducing contamination risk. By replacing large, traditional cleanroom setups, these systems lower barriers for smaller companies and startups and enable labs to pursue innovative, ground-breaking research more efficiently.
Sector: Biotechnology research
Company Size: 11-50 employees
Company Headquarters: Parish, New York
Company Stage: Growth stage. BioSpherix already has some of their equipment in the RegeneratOR Test Bed, which provides users free access to new and emerging technologies in order to de-risk pilot research, but the company is also planning to open a site in Winston-Salem in 2026.
Perry’s Take
“BioSpherix offers a new way to manufacture cells and tissues. BioSpherix supports the Regenerative Medicine Engine, helping other companies conduct research and manufacturing that will revolutionize the environments in which cells and tissues are engineered and, more importantly, will impact patients’ lives.”
BMI Organbank
BMI OrganBank develops innovative organ preservation technologies that support improved evaluation, preservation, and transportation of donor organs—beginning with kidneys. The company’s goal is to increase the utilization of organs available for transplant by giving every viable organ the best opportunity to reach a patient in need.
Sector: Medical Device
Company Size: 11-50 employees
Company Headquarters: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Company Stage: Early stage. The company has grown over the last couple years, adding employees and garnering investment from the National Kidney Foundation Innovation Fund and a grant from the Regenerative Medicine Engine.
Perry’s Take
“BMI OrganBank has had a lot of interesting developments over the last year, but the most exciting is that the company received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for its kidney transplant technology, which validates the need for innovations to improve kidney transplantation and helps expedite its time to market through an additional layer of support from the FDA.”
Elemance
Elemance began as a startup in the iQ in 2014, and today, the company has a global reach with its products and services. The company licenses and provides engineering services for a sophisticated family of virtual human body models. These models simulate how the human body responds to its environment and enable injury-risk prediction for a variety of products and devices. Elemance recently partnered with an international distributor to support the sales and marketing of virtual human body models in Europe and Japan. The company’s technology is widely applicable, used in industries like automotive, aerospace, military, sports, and healthcare. Elemance helps companies and researchers understand how their projects and designs impact human beings in a broad range of scenarios.
Sector: Engineering
Company Size: 11-50 employees
Company Headquarters: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Company Stage: Growth stage. In the near future, the company is planning to add a number of new employees to help expand its service offerings.
Perry’s Take
“Elemance’s rate of growth is unique to see in the life sciences space. Since the company’s start, it has created many great jobs here locally. Additionally, Elemance’s technology is just so unique, which is creating opportunities for the company globally that are driving its growth.”
Epredia
Epredia is a global precision cancer diagnostics support company, using technology like digital imaging designed to help improve the diagnosis of cancer with faster and more accurate results. Its end-to-end pathology solutions help laboratories with improved workflow, which is increasingly important as cancer cases continue to rise and diagnostics processes become more complex. In 2023, Epredia’s parent company PHC Holdings Corporation joined the RegeneratOR Innovation Accelerator at Wake Forest Institute of Regenerative Medicine in the iQ to expand its regenerative medicine presence. Epredia’s presence quickly grew from one office to an entire lab with multiple offices.
Sector: Biotechnology Research
Company Size: 1,000-5,000 employees
Company Headquarters: Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Company Stage: Maturing growth. Epredia recently announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(K) clearance for its Epredia E1000 Dx Digital Pathology Solution.
Perry’s Take
“Epredia’s recent FDA 510(K) clearance is a big deal. Wake Forest University School of Medicine via ReMDO’s Product Trials Catalyst program helped with their clinical trials and that data was used for the submission. This clearance means that Epredia’s technology can be used in patient care, not just research, which will benefit cancer patients.”
Humabiologics
Humabiologics provides native human biomaterials for regenerative medicine therapies. Regenerative medicine research requires biomaterials, and Humabiologics provides the materials that enable researchers to develop other products. These biomaterials can be used for a range of research applications in pharmacology, cell culture, and other life sciences. Humabiologics works with researchers around the world to provide affordable, high-quality biomaterials that become the building blocks of innovations in order to help patients benefit sooner from scientific discoveries. One of Humabiologics’ products, human collagen, is part of an ongoing clinical study of bioprinted cornea to restore vision.
Sector: Regenerative Medicine
Company Size: 11-50 employees
Company Headquarters: Phoenix, Arizona
Company Stage: Growth. Humabiologics just announced the opening of a second manufacturing operation in Winston-Salem, which will help with product development, clinical studies, and early manufacturing…and they’re hiring.
Perry’s Take
“The opening of a manufacturing operation in Winston-Salem is really exciting. Locating the iQ puts them close to a lot of companies who might use their products. Companies like Humabiologics are a critical part of the supply chain for the development and translation of regenerative medicine therapeutics.”
KeraVet Bio
KeraVet Bio produces a hydrogel that uses keratin technology to promote wound healing in pets. It reduces the need for the infamous “Cone of Shame” by decreasing inflammation, which reduces itching or biting at wounds. The prescription gel supports better, faster healing in pets and makes caring for wounds easier. KeraVet Bio is a spin-off company of another local startup, KeraNetics™, that develops medical products that improve healing for humans.
Sector: Wound Care
Company Size: 11-50 employees
Company Headquarters: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Company Stage: Growth stage. The prescription gel is available and the company is growing quickly.
Perry’s Take
“KeraVet Bio has had rapid growth and a high reorder rate of their product, so while they just launched it in the last year or two, their sales are growing and they’re keeping the customers that they have during a critical point in their life cycle.”
Novex Innovations
Novex Innovations is a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) located in Winston-Salem. The company partners with small- to medium-sized companies that need manufacturing expertise for complex and FDA regulated products such as biologics, biopharmaceuticals, pharmaceuticals, tissue-based grafts, and medical devices. Novex specializes in assisting clients through the complex process of manufacturing CGMP compliant products for clinical trials and commercial launch. The organization works with single person operations to multinational companies, providing process development, manufacturing, regulatory support, storage, and product distribution, all to help companies transform discoveries and innovations into commercial successes.
Sector: Biomanufacturing
Company Size: 11-50 employees
Company Headquarters: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Company Stage: Growth stage. Novex regularly hires locally, contributing to the growth of the life science ecosystem in Winston-Salem.
Perry’s Take
“Novex has existed for a while, and they are growing for a variety of reasons. Novex works with small to mid-sized companies to develop processes and manufacture their products in a way that is compliant with strict regulations. That’s really valuable for early-stage startups that don’t have the money to build out their own manufacturing site. Companies like Novex provide stability to our ecosystem.”
PepGel
PepGel advances regenerative medicine through patented, biomimetic hydrogel platforms for 3D cell culture, organoid development, and tissue regeneration. Its flagship PGmatrix™ technology faithfully mimics the human extracellular matrix, enabling cells to self-organize, differentiate, and mature in physiologically relevant 3D environments—overcoming the limitations of traditional 2D cultures and legacy 3D systems. As a tenant of Sparq Labs and an active member of the Regenerative Medicine Engine since 2024, PepGel provides a foundational enabling technology that supports drug discovery, disease modeling, stem cell therapies, and translational regenerative medicine, strengthening both scientific innovation and regional ecosystem growth.
Sector: Biotechnology Research
Company Size: 2-10 employees
Company Headquarters: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Company Stage: Early stage. PepGel is a relative newcomer to Sparq Labs, with a differentiated, platform-based technology and strong translational potential.
Perry’s Take
“PepGel’s product is a critical precursor to a lot of regenerative medicine research, and companies like PepGel bolster the growing regenerative medicine industry in this area. When you’re growing an ecosystem, you need a density of supply chain and manufacturing partners that really help the companies within the ecosystem. PepGel is one of those vital pieces of the puzzle.”
Ricoh 3D for Healthcare
Ricoh 3D for Healthcare uses innovative techniques–like 3D printing–to develop FDA-cleared medical devices for use in treatment of patients. The company partners with health systems and other collaborators to advance personalized medical solutions. In 2024, Ricoh 3D opened its Innovation Studio in Sparq Labs in the iQ, Ricoh’s first on-site facility integrated into a healthcare system, to better collaborate with the surgeons and physicians of the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. Ricoh 3D recently received the first BioNest grant from Greater Winston-Salem Inc. to support the opening of a dedicated research and development facility, also in Sparq Labs, which will expand its ability to develop patient-specific medical devices.
Sector: Medical Device
Company Size: 10,000+ employees
Company Headquarters: Exton, Pennsylvania
Company Stage: Mature. Ricoh 3D for Healthcare is a subsidiary of Ricoh, a large, international digital services company. The new Winston-Salem expansion is expected to generate up to six full-time jobs, as well as a number of paid internships and research opportunities.
Perry’s Take
“The fact that Ricoh 3D is opening an R&D lab that’s separate and distinct from their current endeavor in the iQ is great for the ecosystem. It allows them to develop new products and engage in more collaborative projects with other companies in the ecosystem. It will give the company more flexibility to develop new concepts and new ideas that will help patients.”
Discover More Life Science Companies in the iQ
These nine companies are only a snapshot of the breakthroughs unfolding across the iQ. To dive deeper, check out the Updates section of our website or explore the full tenant directory to see who’s shaping the innovation district.
