# BioSpherix Opens Center for Cytocentric Technology in Winston-Salem's Innovation Quarter, Backed by NSF Grant **Source:** https://glitchwire.com/news/biospherix-opens-center-for-cytocentric-technology-in-winston-salems-innovation/ **Published:** 2026-05-23T12:33:36.185Z **Author:** Science Desk ยท Glitchwire **Categories:** Science, Tech ## Summary The cell-culture specialist is building a dedicated R&D hub focused on keeping cells in physiologically accurate conditions during biomanufacturing, addressing a fundamental gap in regenerative medicine. ## Article BioSpherix, a cell culture systems company headquartered in Parish, New York, has launched its [Center for Cytocentric Technology](https://biospherix.com/cct-launch/) in Winston-Salem's Innovation Quarter. The facility is part of a larger push by the company to establish regional R&D; hubs for its cell-first biomanufacturing approach. The Winston-Salem center is being established through a National Science Foundation grant, part of a $2.5 million Ecosystem Building Grant program administered by the Piedmont Triad Regenerative Medicine Engine (PTRME). BioSpherix was among six companies selected for the inaugural round of funding, announced in December 2024. The center will be located adjacent to the [Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine](https://school.wakehealth.edu/research/institutes-and-centers/wake-forest-institute-for-regenerative-medicine), the world's largest regenerative medicine research facility. ## Why Cell Environment Matters The company's core argument is straightforward: standard cell culture practices fail to replicate conditions inside the human body. Most conventional incubators maintain oxygen levels around 18 to 21 percent, while human tissues typically operate at 2 to 6 percent oxygen. This mismatch can alter cell behavior, metabolism, and experimental outcomes in ways researchers may not fully account for. BioSpherix's Xvivo System addresses this gap by providing closed-environment processing with precise control over oxygen, carbon dioxide, temperature, humidity, and other variables. The company calls this approach "cytocentric," a registered trademark that essentially means prioritizing what cells actually need over what's convenient for laboratory operations. "Cells and tissues in traditional room air culture, even in a cleanroom, are subjected to highly variable and non-physiologic conditions on a routine basis," said Alicia Henn, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of BioSpherix. The new facility aims to provide full-time control of the conditions that cells require. ## Two Facilities, One Strategy BioSpherix is opening facilities in parallel. The company celebrated the grand opening of its Center for Cytocentric Technology in Parish, New York on May 18, 2026. This site houses the company's GMP-level CDMO/CRO facility and is growing bone marrow stem cells that have never been exposed to ambient air. The Winston-Salem location serves as a sister center focused on the Piedmont Triad region. The dual-site strategy positions BioSpherix within two emerging life sciences ecosystems. The Parish facility sits between the biotechnology hubs of Syracuse and Rochester, while Winston-Salem has been developing as a regenerative medicine cluster through Innovation Quarter, [Sparq Labs](/news/the-physics-flip-how-warm-water-chip-cooling-is-rewriting-data-center-economics/), and the RegeneratOR Test Bed. ## The Market Context The cell and gene therapy manufacturing market is projected to grow from $19.3 billion in 2024 to $146.2 billion by 2032, according to industry analysts. This expansion is being driven by increasing FDA approvals for cell and gene therapy products (41 as of December 2024), rising demand for personalized treatments, and significant investment in manufacturing infrastructure. But scaling these therapies remains difficult. Strict GMP regulations typically require multiple cleanrooms and complex workflows. BioSpherix argues that its modular systems can reduce contamination risk while requiring less space and fewer staffing resources than traditional approaches. The company has already placed equipment in the RegeneratOR Test Bed, a "manufacturing-in-a-box" initiative that provides startups access to biomanufacturing equipment and expertise. The new center extends this footprint by offering CDMO and CRO services directly. ## What This Signals Innovation Quarter has been aggressively expanding its life sciences infrastructure. The district recently acquired the former Linden Center for $12 million, planning to convert its 60,000-square-foot floorplates into laboratory and biomanufacturing space. [Sparq Labs](/news/colossal-biosciences-hatches-chickens-from-artificial-eggs-unlocking-a-new-path/), the adaptable biotech lab space at One Technology Place, is already nearing full capacity. For BioSpherix, the Winston-Salem center represents an opportunity to embed its technology within a regional ecosystem that includes Wake Forest, academic partners like NC A&T; and Winston-Salem State University, and a growing cluster of regenerative medicine companies. The PTRME grant noted that the center would help train the next generation of talent in regenerative medicine, an area where BioSpherix has been offering hands-on workshops. The company is also partnering with Cellbox Solutions to extend controlled conditions during transport, addressing another pain point in cell-based therapy logistics. Together, these moves suggest BioSpherix is positioning cytocentric processing as infrastructure for an industry that has mostly treated cell environment as an afterthought. Whether this approach gains broader adoption will depend on whether the reproducibility and viability improvements justify the additional complexity. For now, the company is betting that as [regenerative medicine](/news/edison-scientifics-incyte-deal-shows-what-ai-native-biopharma-actually-looks-lik/) matures from research curiosity to commercial reality, manufacturing will have to start taking cell needs seriously. --- **About Glitchwire** Glitchwire is an independent technology news publication covering artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, science, security, policy, finance, and the broader technology industry. 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