The inaugural NC Biotech Innovation & Investment Summit (NC-BIIS 2026), themed "Beyond Borders, Beyond Biotech Frontiers," will be held on April 24, 2026, at the NC Biotechnology Center in Research Triangle Park. Hosted by SAPA-NC — the newly established North Carolina chapter of the Sino-American Pharmaceutical Professionals Association (SAPA, founded 1993, 10,000+ members) — this flagship event is expected to draw hundreds of professionals from academia, industry, and investment.
The one-day summit will feature 30+ distinguished speakers, including 2019 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine Dr. Gregg L. Semenza (Johns Hopkins), Duke Distinguished Professor and CAS Foreign Member Dr. Xiaofan Wang, AskBio co-founder Ms. Sheila Mikhail, and other renowned scientists and industry leaders. Discussions will center on six frontier topics: AI Drug Discovery, Genetic Medicines, Oncology, Biomedical Engineering, Startups & Investment, and Global Biotech Expansion.
The Research Triangle region — home to Duke University, UNC Chapel Hill, and NC State University — hosts 385+ biotech and life sciences companies with approximately 55,000 employees, including 7 of the world's top 10 CROs. NC-BIIS 2026 aims to serve as a premier platform connecting science, entrepreneurship, capital, and talent in this thriving ecosystem.