Fralin Biomedical Research Institute
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC is a university-affiliated academic biomedical research enterprise within Virginia Tech, conducting translational research on brain disorders, heart disease, cancer, and exercise medicine through specialized centers and shared core facilities, funded primarily by NIH grants and philanthropy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersRoanoke, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Fralin Biomedical Research Institute does
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC is a university-affiliated academic biomedical research enterprise operating within Virginia Tech and located in Roanoke, Virginia. Founded in 2010, the institute conducts fundamental and translational research across brain disorders, heart disease, cancer, exercise medicine, health behaviors, and pediatric rehabilitation through specialized centers including the Center for Vascular and Heart Research, Center for Exercise Medicine Research, Center for Health Behaviors Research, Center for Neurobiology Research, Cancer Research Center–Roanoke, and the National Pediatric Rehabilitation Resource Center (C-PROGRESS). It supports graduate and medical student training through Virginia Tech and the VTC School of Medicine.
The institute's core technical infrastructure comprises advanced shared core facilities — large-bore MRI, CT (small and large bore), PET imaging, ABSL-3, metabolomics, bioprinting, focused ultrasound, confocal microscopy, and an FDA-grade clean room opened in April 2026 — supplemented by proprietary research outputs such as a patent-pending milk-derived exosome drug delivery platform (commercialized via the 2018 spinout Tiny Cargo Company). It does not sell commercial products; rather, it operates a research-services and technology-transfer model comprising federally funded research (primarily NIH), philanthropy, industry partnerships, technology licensing, and contract access to its core facilities and clean room. Go-to-market is relationship-driven through formal research collaborations, sponsored research, licensing agreements, and startup incubation via the Fralin Commercialization Fellows Program.
The institute employs 101–250 staff and faculty and serves a hybrid set of customers/participants: graduate and medical students seeking research training, academic and clinical research collaborators, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry partners, and community research volunteers. The institute also plays an active regional economic development role, exemplified by its key participation in recruiting Austrian firm RINGANA to establish its U.S. headquarters in Roanoke. Revenue is not separately disclosed but is materially dependent on NIH grant funding awarded to Virginia Tech — $58.6M in 2024 declining to $23.7M in 2026 — supplemented by private philanthropy (notably a $50M Red Gates Foundation gift in 2023) and state/GO Virginia support.
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute
- Legal name
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Website
- https://fbri.vtc.vt.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC is a university-affiliated academic biomedical research enterprise within Virginia Tech, conducting translational research on brain disorders, heart disease, cancer, and exercise medicine through specialized centers and shared core facilities, funded primarily by NIH grants and philanthropy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biomedical Research Services
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Medical Laboratories (621511), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Biomedical Sciences & Medical Research Institutes (University-Based) (EDAHAGAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Molecular Diagnostics & Genomics Laboratories (HLAFAMAE), Transcriptomics & Gene Expression Profiling Services (HLAGANAE), Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs) & Specialized Clinical Lab Assays (HLAAALAN)
Keywords
Where Fralin Biomedical Research Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Roanoke
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Others
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute is an academic biomedical research enterprise that conducts world-class research aimed at preventing, diagnosing, and treating leading causes of death and suffering, including cancer, brain disorders, heart disease, and metabolic conditions. It operates multiple specialized research centers, shared core service facilities (imaging, metabolomics, behavioral testing, 3D printing), education and training programs, and commercialization support for translating research into commercial applications.
Product overview
The Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC is one of the nation's fastest-growing academic biomedical research enterprises, operating as a single integrated research institution rather than a platform with modular products. The institute encompasses multiple specialized research centers (including vascular/heart research, exercise medicine, health behaviors, neurobiology, cancer research, and pediatric rehabilitation) along with shared core service facilities (imaging, metabolomics, behavioral testing, 3D printing). The institute also provides education/training programs and commercialization support for research translation. Rather than selling products or services externally, the institute conducts fundamental biomedical research and provides training in partnership with Virginia Tech and the VTC School of Medicine.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Center for Exercise Medicine Research: Research center focused on understanding how exercise improves mitochondrial function and promotes health
- Center for Vascular and Heart Research
- Center for Health Behaviors Research
- Center for Neurobiology Research
- Center for Human Neuroscience Research
- Addiction Recovery Research Center
- Cancer Research Center - Roanoke
- Virginia Tech Molecular Diagnostics Lab
- National Pediatric Rehabilitation Resource Center (C-PROGRESS)
Products and services
- Core Services Facilities Shared research facilities including MRI (large bore), CT scanning (small and large bore), PET imaging, cellular and molecular imaging, metabolomics, behavioral testing, 3D printing, focused ultrasound, confocal microscopy, tissue processing, bioprinting, molecular analysis, and cell sorting capabilities. Available to internal researchers and external collaborators.
- Center for Vascular and Heart Research Research center advancing understanding of vascular and cardiovascular health, hosting annual symposiums and conducting research on heart disease, vascular biology, and related conditions.
- Center for Exercise Medicine Research Dedicated to understanding how exercise improves mitochondrial function and promotes health, led by internationally recognized researchers in exercise science.
- Center for Health Behaviors Research Studies the neuroscience of food choice, addiction, and health behaviors, including research on ultra-processed foods, obesity, and substance use.
- Cancer Research Center - Roanoke Comprehensive cancer research facility focused on understanding cancer biology and developing new therapeutic approaches.
- Center for Neurobiology Research Research focused on understanding brain function, neurological disorders, and developing treatments for conditions affecting the nervous system.
- National Pediatric Rehabilitation Resource Center (C-PROGRESS) Pediatric rehabilitation research center providing resources and conducting studies on child health and development.
- Education and Training Programs Postdoctoral opportunities, graduate research programs, undergraduate research, and training for future biomedical researchers at Virginia Tech and the VTC School of Medicine.
- Fralin Commercialization Fellows Program Program supporting the translation of research discoveries into commercial applications and startup companies.
- Clean Room Manufacturing Facility Clean room facility enabling local companies to manufacture clinical-grade materials meeting FDA standards without leaving the region.
Quantifiable outcome
- Virginia Tech received $58.6 million in NIH funding for 152 awards in 2024
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Fralin Biomedical Research Institute
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Jackson Laboratory: Independent, non-profit biomedical research institute specializing in genetics, genomics, and mouse models for disease research. Comparable as a non-profit research enterprise with core service facilities and industry partnerships.
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies: Independent, non-profit biomedical research institute in La Jolla, California. Closely comparable as a multi-center, university-affiliated style research enterprise conducting basic and translational biomedical research across cancer, neuroscience, and metabolism.
- Morgridge Institute for Research: University of Wisconsin-Madison-affiliated, non-profit biomedical research institute conducting research in regenerative biology, medical engineering, and virology. Direct peer in the university-affiliated research institute model.
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research: Non-profit basic biomedical research institute with ~20 research programs in gene regulation, regeneration, and cancer. Direct peer in the university-affiliated / independent biomedical research institute category.
- Gladstone Institutes: University-affiliated (UCSF) independent biomedical research institute with focused centers in cardiovascular, neurological, and immune disease research. Directly comparable organizational model to FBRI's center-based structure and university affiliation.
- Allen Institute: Non-profit research organization with large-scale research programs in neuroscience, cell science, and brain science. Comparable in mission, scale, and translational orientation to FBRI's neuroscience and health behavior centers.
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research: MIT-affiliated, non-profit biomedical research institute with ~30 principal investigators working in cancer, immunology, regenerative biology, and neuroscience. Direct structural and mission peer to FBRI.
- Wistar Institute: University of Pennsylvania-affiliated, non-profit biomedical research institute focused on cancer, vaccines, and infectious disease. Direct peer in the university-affiliated biomedical research institute category.
- Sanford Burnham Prebys: Non-profit medical research institute with multi-center structure covering cancer, neurodegeneration, and metabolic disorders. Direct peer in academic-style biomedical research with multiple disease-focused centers.
- Van Andel Institute: Independent, non-profit biomedical research and education institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Direct peer as a mid-sized, multi-center research institute with cancer, neurodegenerative, and metabolic disease focus areas.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute social profiles
Digital presenceFralin Biomedical Research Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Fralin Biomedical Research Institute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Fralin Biomedical Research Institute
What does Fralin Biomedical Research Institute do?
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute is an academic biomedical research enterprise that conducts world-class research aimed at preventing, diagnosing, and treating leading causes of death and suffering, including cancer, brain disorders, heart disease, and metabolic conditions. It operates multiple specialized research centers, shared core service facilities (imaging, metabolomics, behavioral testing, 3D printing), education and training programs, and commercialization support for translating research into commercial applications.
Is Fralin Biomedical Research Institute a public or private company?
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Fralin Biomedical Research Institute founded?
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute was founded in 2010. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Fralin Biomedical Research Institute based?
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute is headquartered in Roanoke, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Fralin Biomedical Research Institute's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Jackson Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Morgridge Institute for Research, Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Gladstone Institutes, Allen Institute, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Wistar Institute, Sanford Burnham Prebys and Van Andel Institute.
Does Fralin Biomedical Research Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fralin Biomedical Research Institute.
What industry is Fralin Biomedical Research Institute in?
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute's product category is Biomedical Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAGAI, Biomedical Sciences & Medical Research Institutes (University-Based), with a secondary code of HLAFAMAE, Molecular Diagnostics & Genomics Laboratories. Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 8731.