Roanoke Blacksburg Innovation Alliance

We have exciting news to share! Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital has been approved to offer a kidney transplant program! Thank you to our local communities for your steadfast support in helping to bring kidney transplant services to our region. Because of you, we can provide additional care that enhances quality of life right here in our community. We are deeply grateful for all who spoke up and wrote letters of support. Stay tuned for more details about our kidney transplant program, starting in 2026! https://lnkd.in/eU5mQqsn

The Central Virginia region is continuing to expand its BioHealth entrepreneurship and community development activities thanks to a multimillion-dollar award from the Commonwealth’s GO Virginia economic development program and close partnerships between the Virginia Biotech Research Park Authority, its nonprofit affiliate (Activation Capital), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond’s GROW Capital Jobs, and area economic development organizations. The award will add a vital business component to the state’s existing biotech ecosystem to bolster the success of high-potential, early-stage life sciences companies. This project was funded in part by GO Virginia, a state-funded initiative administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) that strengthens and diversifies Virginia’s economy and fosters the creation of higher-wage jobs in strategic industries. GO Virginia approved a $14.3 million funding package to three Virginia biotech accelerator organizations in response to a multiregional proposal called “Project VITAL: Virginia Innovations and Technology Advancements in Life Sciences.” Each organization is collaborating with nearby research universities to build on biotech research and expansion in their regions. VBRPA-Activation Capital received $5 million of the award which will be used to provide regional BioHealth startups with operational support, acceleration programming, and event opportunities to showcase their technologies. The award also creates “soft-landing” opportunities for startups interested in locating in the Richmond area and “space-making” to enhance the lab and co-working facilities available to startups in the VA Bio+Tech Park. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/eRDGe8YU