More than a year into its statewide expansion, the Regenerative Medicine Engine in North Carolina is doubling down on preparing the state’s workforce for careers in regenerative medicine, one of the fastest-emerging fields in science and medicine. The nonprofit economic development organization, formerly the Piedmont Triad Regenerative Medicine Engine, helped bring seven new regenerative medicine companies to North Carolina in 2025 and facilitated skills training for nearly 1,500 people. It has also named a new chief executive: Lester Martinez, MD, will become CEO effective November 1, 2026.
“A lot of what’s being done now is to make sure the entire state is open to the regenerative medicine field,” said Anthony Atala, MD, director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) and the Engine’s chief innovation officer.
From the Triad to Statewide
Regenerative medicine involves therapies that help the body repair or regenerate its own cells, tissues, and organs. The field has grown from an experimental area into one with demonstrated success treating patients, though hurdles remain in moving promising therapies through regulatory approval and into commercialization. The Engine works to help overcome those challenges while promoting the field across North Carolina.
Funded through an initial $15 million from the National Science Foundation, with the potential for up to $160 million over 10 years, the Engine has spearheaded $270 million in economic development activity and supported 721 new jobs since its inception, according to its 2025 Economic Impact Report. In June 2025, it announced its statewide expansion and dropped “Piedmont Triad” from its name.
Building a Regenerative Medicine Workforce
Helping companies and researchers hire and train talent is one of the Engine’s core missions. Earlier this year, it brought on Carla Johnson, PhD, as a consultant and workforce development lead. “A lot of people don’t know that regenerative medicine is an area of biotech that’s growing exponentially,” Johnson said. “There are some very specific workforce skills that people in this area need to have.” Those skills include knowledge of safety requirements and the ability to work in cleanrooms. The Engine currently has arrangements with 13 of the state’s community colleges to prepare students for the field and is working to add more.
Resources Now Open Statewide
Together, the Engine and WFIRM offer entrepreneurs and researchers resources in five areas:
- Workforce development: a skilled talent pool for companies to hire from.
- Accelerator program: market validation for products and innovations.
- Regulatory navigation: guidance through regulatory approvals.
- Product trial catalyst: a single contract covering multiple Institutional Review Board (IRB) processes.
- Test bed: free access to equipment in downtown Winston-Salem for building and evaluating prototypes.
“Part of our role is to help researchers and entrepreneurs who are trying to bring a product from bench to bedside,” Atala said. “We want to make sure companies know that North Carolina is open for business for regenerative medicine.”
Nancy Johnston, executive director of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center‘s Piedmont Triad office, said the Engine has made meaningful progress since its 2024 NSF funding. “What we’re seeing with their expansion statewide is the fulfilment of a vision to advance economic growth,” she said. “As regenerative medicine has grown, so has Winston-Salem and the Innovation Quarter, strengthening the Piedmont Triad Region and North Carolina’s commitment to making sure we’re home base for one [of] the world’s emerging medical fields.”
New CEO Brings Military Health and R&D Leadership
Martinez succeeds Tim Bertram, who has led the Engine since August 2024. Martinez most recently served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, providing executive oversight and strategic direction for the Military Health System, which serves about 9.5 million beneficiaries. As Commanding General of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, he led thousands of personnel across national laboratories and research centers and oversaw the Army’s global medical R&D portfolio. He was also a founding member and leader of the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC), a national public-private partnership that accelerates technology development and commercialization.
“I am excited to join the Engine and do my part to grow regenerative medicine from the leading edge globally,” Martinez said.
Bertram, a biotech executive and serial entrepreneur, founded and served as CEO of ProKidney, a North Carolina company developing regenerative therapies for chronic kidney disease. During his tenure, he led the Engine’s efforts to build an innovation ecosystem that speeds the translation of regenerative medicine research into commercial applications while supporting economic growth, workforce development, and job creation.
