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Alabama shows great promise in its flourishing biotechnology and life science industry. The state provides strong resources to help foster its growth in this sector, with seven research universities, numerous biotechnology companies, and other benefits.

Alabama is home to a growing number of biotechnology and life sciences-related companies. These include Applied Genomics, Inc. in Huntsville; Atrion Medical Products, Inc. in Arab; BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in Birmingham; BioHorizons, Inc. in Birmingham; Brookwood Pharmaceuticals in Birmingham; Capitol Vial, Inc. in Auburn; Centrix Pharmaceutical, Inc. in Birmingham; CytoViva, Inc. in Auburn; Cebert Pharmaceuticals in Birmingham; Eagle Aquaculture, Inc. in Auburn; Emageon in Birmingham; Expression Genetics, Inc. in Huntsville; Galenica Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in Birmingham; HR Pharmaceuticals, LLC in Birmingham; IntraMicron, Inc. in Birmingham; Lakeshore Biomaterials in Birmingham; New Century Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in Huntsville; Omega Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in Birmingham; Operon Biotechnologies, Inc. in Huntsville; PNP Therapeutics, Inc. in Birmingham; and Vivo Biosciences, Inc. in Birmingham, among others.

Alabama's academic institutions offer cutting-edge research and resources to promote the life sciences industry in the state. Auburn University in Auburn receives approximately $100 million for sponsored research programs annually, and emphasizes such programs as agricultural sciences, biological sciences, natural resources, engineering, and physical sciences. Auburn is home to several centers for groundbreaking research, such as the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station and Dauphin Island Sea Lab. Additionally, Auburn offers the services of its Office of the Vice President for Research. The Auburn University Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) provides Auburn researchers with assistance in protecting intellectual property and seeking license agreements with commercial entities for technology transfer to the commercial marketplace. Tuskegee University conducts research at several institutes and centers, including the Center for Biomedical Research and the Center for Integrated Study of Food, Animal, and Plant Systems (CISFAPS). The University of Alabama in Birmingham earns over $470 million annually in contract and grant support, and hosts numerous interdisciplinary centers for life sciences research such as the Coalition for BioMolecular Products, the Environmental Institute, the Center for Freshwater Studies, and the Center for Macromolecular Crystallography, to name a few. Additionally, the University of Alabama School of Medicine (UASOM) boasts over $300 million in funding for active grants and contracts, and houses clinical facility space, research laboratories, classrooms, surgical suites, and more. The University of Alabama at Huntsville offers a Ph.D. program in Biotechnology. The University of Alabama also offers researchers the services of its Office for Technology Transfer, aiming to facilitate commercialization of intellectual property generated by University of Alabama faculty, staff, and students. The University of South Alabama (USA) in Mobile conducts research in centers and institutes such as the USA Mitchell Cancer Institute, the USA College of Medicine Center for Lung Biology, and the Alabama Center for Estuarine Studies, in addition to providing services by the Office of Technology Development for technology transfer. For those seeking an introduction into biotechnology education, Calhoun Community College in Decatur offers an Associate of Science Degree in Biotechnology.

Alabama provides ample networking capabilities for the biotechnology and life sciences sector. The Alabama Partnership for Biotechnology Research aims for collaboration between industrial, academic, and government organizations in order to create a productive research and entrepreneurial environment for area biotechnology endeavors via education, business resources, and networking. The Alabama Technology Network in Birmingham provides assistance to businesses with the streamlining of operations, improvement of team performance, implementation of quality systems, and other capabilities to encourage Alabama's existing industry to be globally competitive. The Biotechnology Association of Alabama (BAA) represents a statewide network of life sciences industries, research scientists, clinicians, and business professionals to further the life sciences industry in Alabama.

Alabama also boasts strong research capabilities at its research institutes. The HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology is a new institute representing a synergistic cluster of researchers and entrepreneurs in biotechnology, with for-profit tenant companies collaborating at a research campus. The Southern Research Institute in Birmingham is a not-for-profit center for scientific research, affiliated with the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and is a diversified network of collaborative centers for scientific discovery and technology development in life sciences research, life sciences contract services, engineering, and environment and energy industries.

Alabama's wealth of biotechnology and life sciences industry-related companies, academic institutions, organizations, and institutes guarantee a bright future for the industry in the state.

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