Record-Breaking Biomedical Sciences Symposium Launches NC Life Sciences Week

September 21, 2026
Categories: College News, Klein College of Science, Research
The large crowd of 420+ attendees gather at the 2026 Biomedical Sciences Symposium hosted at the UNC Charlotte Dubois Center on Sept. 14. They stand in the atrium smiling and looking up. Vice Chancellor for Research John Daniels stands at the back of the crowd holding up the pickaxe hand sign.

The 2026 Biomedical Sciences Symposium brought a record number of researchers, health care leaders, entrepreneurs and industry professionals to UNC Charlotte’s Dubois Center on Sept. 14, kicking off North Carolina Life Sciences Week for the second consecutive year.

Held under the theme, “Biomedical Sciences Ecosystem: Creating Innovation for Impact,” the symposium welcomed 420 registrants, up from 310 attendees in 2025. Participants represented 110 organizations and affiliations across 11 states and six countries, highlighting the event’s growing reach and influence within the biomedical sciences community.

Christine Richardson, Ph.D., director of the UNC Charlotte Center for Biomedical Engineering and Science and chair of the Department of Biological Sciences in the Klein College of Science, opened the symposium by welcoming attendees and emphasizing the importance of collaboration across research, industry, health care and government.

John Daniels, Ph.D., UNC Charlotte vice chancellor for research, highlighted the University’s continued research momentum as a Carnegie R1 institution. Daniels noted that UNC Charlotte ranks No. 2 nationally in new U.S. patents filed per research dollar and has received 84 patents since 2020. He also shared that the University’s research expenditures have increased 246% over the past decade, underscoring Charlotte’s growing position as a center for innovation and discovery.

Danté Anderson, Charlotte City Council member representing District 1, discussed the impact of the life sciences sector on the Charlotte region and the importance of partnerships that advance both economic development and human health.

The symposium featured presentations and discussions from leaders across medicine, biotechnology, data science and health care innovation.

The organizers and plenary speakers for the 2026 Biomedical Sciences Symposium stand in front of the UNC Charlotte logo at the Dubois Center on Sept. 14.
L to R: John Daniels, Danté Anderson, Megan Mitchem, Christine Richardson, Ahmed Helmy, Stephen Kritchevsky, Ruben Mesa.

Three plenary speakers headlined the morning session:

  • Ruben Mesa, M.D., President of Advocate Health Cancer National Service Line; Senior Vice President Advocate Health; Executive Director, Advocate Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center; Vice Dean Wake Forest School Medicine 
  • Stephen Kritchevsky, Ph.D., Associate Dean, Clinical and Translational Science Institute; Co-Director, Sticht Center for Healthy Aging and Alzheimer’s Prevention
  • Ahmed Helmy, Ph.D., associate dean for research in UNC Charlotte’s College of Computing and Informatics and co-director of the AI4Health Center for Human Digital Twins and Computational Health

Two expert panels explored opportunities shaping North Carolina’s life sciences landscape. The first, “Innovation and Growth in North Carolina’s Biomedical Ecosystem,” was moderated by Richardson and featured panelists: 

  • Craig Scharton, Director, Connect Labs Charlotte
  • Hillary Crittendon, Chief of Staff and Vice President Innovation District Operations for Advocate Health
  • Jesse Jur, Senior Director, Innovation Ecosystems & Strategic Initiatives, First Flight Venture Center
  • Mary Lou Bourne, Senior Regional Innovation Network Director for Charlotte, NC Innovation
Panelists sit and hold microphones while moderator Christine Richardson stands near the podium at the UNC Charlotte Dubois Center.
The full auditorium of attendees listens to the expert panel at the 2026 Biomedical Symposium help Spet. 14 at the UNC Charlotte Dubois Center.

The second panel, “Beyond the Bench: Charlotte Biotech,” showcased leaders from the region’s growing biotechnology sector. Corie Curtis, executive director for greater Charlotte at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, welcomed attendees as the panel sponsor. Zach Zabarsky, senior director of Science and Technology Development at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center moderated the discussion featuring panelists: 

  • John Powderly, founder and president of the Carolina BioOncology Institute and Biocytics
  • Pinku Mukherjee, UNC Charlotte’s Irwin Belk Distinguished Professor in Cancer Research and co-founder of OncoTAb
  • Colby T. Ford, owner and principal consultant of Tuple, The Cloud Genomics Company
  •  Frank McKeon, co-founder and chief scientific officer of Tract Bio
A speaker stands at a podium addressing an audience, with four panelists seated in front of a large screen displaying speaker information and logos for the University of North Carolina Charlotte and the North Carolina Biotechnology Center.

Beyond the keynote presentations and panel discussions, the symposium showcased the depth and diversity of biomedical research across the region and beyond. The event featured 48 concurrent speakers, seven lightning talks and 56 poster presentations. Talks in the concurrent sessions covered a range of topics, including: 

  • Cancer Biology: Signaling, Microenvironment & Origins
  • Imaging, Biophysics & Molecular Organization
  • Infectious Disease & Host-Pathogen Biology
  • Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration & CNS Therapeutics
  • Cancer Therapeutics, CSCs & Cell Therapy
  • AI in Biomedical & Life Sciences
A group of researchers stands on a stage during a scientific presentation, with one person speaking into a microphone while others listen, in front of a large screen displaying a research poster.
Lightning Talks
A diverse group of attendees sits in a Dubois Center lecture hall, attentively listening to a presentation.
Concurrent Oral Presentations
Three individuals engage in conversation in front of a scientific research poster displayed at the University of North Carolina Charlotte.
Poster Sessions

A new mentor-mentee program also debuted at this year’s symposium, connecting 28 mentees with 24 mentors to support professional development and strengthen the next generation of life sciences leaders.

The symposium’s success was made possible through the support of 13 corporate and institutional sponsors: NCBiotech, Sarstedt, Agilent, ibidi, Cytek, UNC Charlotte’s College of Computing and Informatics, UNC Charlotte Division of Research, UNC Charlotte Klein College of Science, Leica Microsystems, Hunt Optics and Imaging, Carolina BioOncology Institute/BioCytics, Avantor/VWR and Hashimoto Consulting Services.

Award recipients were recognized at the conclusion of the day with a networking session, and each award was supported by one of the symposium’s sponsors.

See the 2026 Biomedical Sciences Symposium Award Winners

“Kicking off North Carolina Life Sciences Week 2026, the symposium demonstrates the power of bringing together researchers, clinicians, entrepreneurs, students and industry leaders to create meaningful impact,” Richardson said.

Attendees engage in conversation at the 2026 Biomedical Sciences Symposium at the UNC Charlotte Dubois Center with informational booths and displays.
Three individuals engage with materials at a Cytiva booth during the 2026 Biomedical Sciences Symposium at the UNC Charlotte Dubois Center with informational booths and displays.
Attendees engage with a booth at an event, examining materials and interacting with a representative at a green-covered table at the 2026 Biomedical Sciences Symposium at the UNC Charlotte Dubois Center with informational booths and displays.
2026 Biomedical Sciences Symposium photo gallery

Written by Jenn Conway
Photos by Kat Lawrence