North Carolina – Regional Life Sciences Roundup – November 7, 2026
Capital and capacity are moving into North Carolina at the same time workforce support is being built to sustain it. This week’s news shows expansion on both sides: the money coming in to build new facilities and the programs being funded to train the people who will work in them.
Bracco, an Italian diagnostic imaging leader, is bringing $230 million and 200 jobs to Sanford for its first U.S. manufacturing plant. The Capital Area Workforce Development Board won an $5 million federal grant to help 628 laid-off workers across 15 counties return to work. On the clinical side, United Therapeutics received FDA clearance to begin trials of Treprostinil-Iloprost SMI, an investigational combination inhaled therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension that could become the first use-as-needed treatment of its kind.
The people’s side is moving early too. Sean Stowe returned to FUJIFILM Biotechnologies as Associate Director, Program Design, Biologics, rejoining the Research Triangle CDMO after nearly three years at IDBS. Opus Genetics named Dr. Andrew Murphy Chief Scientific Officer and Jamie Lynne Hart Executive Director, Executive Operations, strengthening both its scientific leadership and operational capabilities as it advances its gene therapy pipeline. And the NC Community College System launched a Student Innovation Council, bringing ten students from across the state together to help shape the student experience.
If you’re hiring, job hunting, or watching who’s adding capacity and where, this week laid out the map.
Financial
Delta Dental Foundation of North Carolina Commits $1 Million to Expand Oral Health Access Statewide
The Delta Dental Foundation of North Carolina announced a $1 million commitment to expand access to oral health care and strengthen the state’s dental workforce. The investment will focus on children’s and adult oral health and support the next generation of dental professionals, addressing persistent gaps in access across North Carolina where 25 counties fall below the federal threshold for adequate dental care. Read More >
Scaling to Solutions Grant
The North Carolina Biotechnology Center has published instructions for submitting grant proposals through its online Funding Portal. Principal investigators must register for an account at least five days before the submission deadline, completing basic information about themselves and their organization. Once registered, applicants can access open funding programs, complete application forms with required documents, and save drafts before final submission. Apply Now >
Governor Stein Announces Italian Diagnostic Imaging Company to Invest $230 Million in Sanford for its First U.S. Manufacturing Plant
Bracco, an Italian diagnostic imaging company, will invest $230 million in Sanford, North Carolina, to establish its first S. manufacturing plant. Governor Josh Stein announced the project, which will create 200 jobs. The facility strengthens North Carolina’s position in advanced manufacturing and medical technology. Read More >
People
Sean Stowe Returns to FUJIFILM Biotechnologies as Associate Director, Program Design, Biologics
Sean Stowe, , has joined FUJIFILM Biotechnologies as Associate Director, Program Design, Biologics, starting in October 2026. Based in the Research Triangle, Stowe returns to the Morrisville CDMO where he previously spent more than five years. He joins from IDBS, where he spent nearly three years as Principal Solutions Consultant. Read More >
Doug Baratta, Vice President, Trade & Channel Management, US, who was named Brand Trade Rep of the Year at the Cardinal Health Business Partners Conference
Doug Baratta, Vice President of Trade and Channel Management at Chiesi USA, was named Brand Trade Rep of the Year at the Cardinal Health Business Partners Conference. Baratta also became Chair of Cardinal Health’s DSP Advisory Board this year. Cardinal Health executives praised him as a trusted business partner, and Baratta credited the recognition to the entire Chiesi team, including customer service and supply chain colleagues who work with Cardinal Health on distribution. Read More >
Opus Genetics Appoints Dr. Andrew Murphy as Chief Scientific Officer and Jamie Lynne Hart as Executive Director, Executive Operations
Opus Genetics appointed Dr. Andrew Murphy as Chief Scientific Officer and Jamie Lynne Hart as Executive Director, Executive Operations. The appointments strengthen scientific leadership and operational capabilities as the company advances its pipeline of gene therapies for inherited retinal diseases. Read More >
Workforce
Wake County-led workplace board wins over $ 5 million to help laid-off workers
The Capital Area Workforce Development Board has been awarded an $8 million federal grant to help 628 laid-off workers across 15 North Carolina counties return to work. Funded through the S. Department of Labor’s Rapid Reskill Dislocated Worker grant program, the 36-month initiative targets high-growth sectors including advanced manufacturing and construction companies adopting new technology. Read More >
NC Community College System Launches Student Innovation Council to Help Shape the Student Experience
The North Carolina Community College System launched a Student Innovation Council, bringing together ten students from across the state to help shape the student experience. The council will provide feedback on programs, policies, and initiatives directly to system leadership. Read More >
Who’s hiring?! 🐝
BioBuzz Job Board Opportunities. Employers in your region post their openings straight to the BioBuzz Job Board. Here is who is hiring this week.
Top employer: IQVIA
687 open jobs on the BioBuzz Job Board right now. 60+ open roles at IQVIA. See all roles ›
IQVIA is a global provider of advanced analytics, technology solutions, and clinical research services to the life sciences industry. The company connects data, analytics, artificial intelligence, and healthcare expertise to support drug development, product quality and safety, commercial effectiveness, and patient access to treatments.
IQVIA employs approximately 93,000 people and operates in more than 100 countries. The company works with customers and partners across the healthcare ecosystem to accelerate clinical development and commercialization of medical treatments.
Other employers and available roles we’re paying attention to this week:
Amgen Holly Springs, NC Hiring a Facilities Manager | Apply Now › | 63 open roles |
KBI Biopharma Durham, NC Hiring a Vice President, Facilities & Engineering | Apply Now › | 58 open roles |
Novo Nordisk Durham, NC Hiring a Manufacturing Operator I – Blending & Granulation | Apply Now › | 54 open roles |
GSK Durham, NC Hiring a Sr. Director, MASH/ALD Brand Lead & Pipeline | Apply Now › | 46 open roles |
FUJIFILM Biotechnologies Morrisville, NC Hiring a Lead QC Associate II – Raw Materials | Apply Now › | 36 open roles |
Siemens Healthineers Cary, NC Hiring a Human Resource Business Partner, Customer Services, Cary, NC | Apply Now › | 29 open roles |
Clinical + Commercial
Humacyte Strengthens Intellectual Property Portfolio with Issuance of New U.S. Patent Covering Symvess and Other Bioengineered Tissues
Humacyte announced the issuance of a new S. patent covering key aspects of the manufacturing, sterilization, storage, and shipping of Symvess and other bioengineered human tissues. S. Patent No. 12,742,144 provides protection into 2043 and complements existing patents covering the design, composition, and methods of manufacture of the Durham company’s products. Read More >
Scipher Medicine Launches PrismTcell™, the Next Molecular Treatment Response Signature, for Abatacept in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Scipher Medicine announced the expected launch of an early physician access program for PrismTcell, a new Molecular Treatment Response Signature for abatacept in rheumatoid arthritis. A clinical validation study showed PrismTcell use achieved approximately 2-fold higher ACR50 response rate to abatacept. The Durham company will showcase the technology at ACR Convergence 2026. Read More >
United Therapeutics Announces FDA Clearance to Proceed with Clinical Trial for Treprostinil-Iloprost SMI in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
United Therapeutics received FDA clearance to begin clinical trials of Treprostinil-Iloprost SMI, an investigational combination inhaled therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension. If successful, it would be the first use-as-needed combination prostacyclin therapy for PAH. The phase 1 study will evaluate safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers. Read More >
Ecosystem
Zealic Health and Coriqa Clinical Announce Strategic Partnership to Redefine Clinical Trial Execution, From Reactive to Proactive
Zealic Health, a Raleigh life sciences technology company, and Coriqa Clinical, a Holly Springs clinical operations consultancy, announced a strategic partnership to shift clinical trial execution from reactive oversight to proactive intervention and prevention. The partnership combines technology, clinical operations expertise, and real-world trial experience to identify risk earlier and prevent avoidable downstream impact.
Read More >
Waters and Labcorp to Expand Access to Cervical Cancer Screening with the Most Comprehensive FDA-Approved HPV Testing Option Beginning in Late 2026
Labcorp and Waters Corporation announced a partnership to expand access to cervical cancer screening beginning in late 2026. Labcorp intends to be the first commercial laboratory to offer FDA-approved HPV testing with the BD Onclarity HPV Assay across clinician-collected and self-collected screening options in clinic, patient service center, and at-home settings nationwide.
Read More >
bioAffinity Technologies Highlights Importance of Link Between Early Lung Cancer Detection and Curative Treatment During National Lung Cancer Awareness Month
San Antonio-based bioAffinity Technologies will participate in the Lung Cancer Initiative of North Carolina’s Battle of the Blues event on November 5, where physicians and patient advocates will discuss lung cancer diagnostics and treatment advances. The company will share information about its CyPath Lung test, a noninvasive sputum-based assay using flow cytometry and AI that demonstrated 92% sensitivity and 87% specificity in detecting lung cancer in high-risk patients with small pulmonary nodules in a published clinical trial.
Read More >
Other [Good] Reads
The Science of Healthier Models in Animal Welfare Research
Charles River released a podcast episode featuring Carly O’Malley, 3Rs Scientist for Animal Welfare and Training, discussing ongoing research into laboratory animal care and handling practices. The conversation explores how researchers continue to learn about optimal living conditions, handling preferences, and comfort measures for lab animals. O’Malley discusses current work aimed at keeping animal models healthy throughout the research process.
Read More >
Endosomal Escape: Emerging Strategies for Nucleic Acid Therapeutics
Endosomal escape remains the rate-limiting step in delivering nucleic acid therapeutics into cells, with only 1 to 2 percent of internalized RNA reaching the cytosol where it can act. Researchers are developing strategies that trigger membrane disruption only inside target cells or under specific intracellular conditions, rather than systemically. Lipid nanoparticles activate escape through pH-gated ionizable lipids that destabilize endosomal membranes as they acidify, and newer formulations can be directed to specific organs beyond the liver through selective protein binding. Read More >
Realizing the promise of RWE: A need for greater regulatory clarity
Parexel executives Mike D’Ambrosio and Tala Fakhouri argue that unclear FDA guidance is limiting the use of real-world evidence in drug approvals. The company recently published research identifying barriers such as data submission requirements designed for clinical trials that don’t fit real-world data sources. The authors call for the FDA to modernize its data standards and clarify expectations for data access, warning that without greater regulatory clarity, valuable evidence may remain underutilized and delay patient access to new therapies. Read More >
On the Calendar
2026 State of Diabetes: Charlotte
Thursday, November 5 · 9:00 AM–12:00 PM · Charlotte, NC
Hosted by American Diabetes Association® (ADA) | Register Now >
2026 NC Global Health Conference
Friday, November 6 · 8:30 AM–3:00 PM · Durham, NC
Hosted by North Carolina Global Health Alliance | Register Now >
2026 NC A&T Honors College Research Conference
Monday, October 5 · 8:00 AM–4:30 PM · Greensboro, North Carolina
Hosted by Honors College, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University | Register Now >
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