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About Us

Founded in 2010, the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC is one of the nation’s fastest-growing academic biomedical research enterprises and a destination for world-class researchers. The institute’s Virginia Tech scientists focus on diseases that are the leading causes of death and suffering in the United States, including brain disorders, heart disease, and cancer. Since its inception, the research institute has experienced unprecedented growth: doubling its enterprise and lab facilities in Roanoke, while also investing in brand-new laboratories on the Children’s National Research & Innovation Campus in Washington, D.C.

We are committed to making our workplace inclusive for everyone. Read our Fralin Biomedical Research Institute Principles of Human Dignity and Non-Discrimination, and Visit our Diversity & Inclusion page for more information.

By The Numbers 

(Updated September 2024)

  • More Than 40 Faculty-Led Research Teams. Focused on developing innovations for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of brain and behavioral disorders including addiction, heart disease, cancer, children's health, obesity, and metabolic disorders.
  • 800 Current Employees and Trainees. Including more than 90 Virginia Tech Ph.D. students, and 75 M.D. student trainees conducting research under the mentorship of Fralin Biomedical faculty.
  • 1,000+ Publications in Leading Scientific Journals. Our faculty have been cited more than 300,000 times. View Discovery News
  • More Than $230 Million Current Active Grants and Contracts. Since its inception, the institute has been awarded a total of $375 million in grants and contracts.
  • Hundreds of Health Science Leader Seminars Hosted. Since 2010, hundreds of esteemed leaders in science and health have visited and delivered talks at the institute. View Upcoming Seminars and Events
  • More Than 260,000-square-feet of Premier Research Facilities. Research institute scientists occupy approximately 250,000 square feet in Roanoke, and an additional 12,000 square feet on the Children's National Research & Innovation Campus in Washington, D.C., a pediatric research hub that brings together Children's National Hospital, Johnson & Johnson Innovation — JLABS @ Washington, D.C., and Virginia Tech.
  • International Community. Our researchers and students come to Roanoke, Virginia, from across the world — including from multiple countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, as well as Australia and New Zealand.
Careers at Fralin Biomedical Research Institute
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Our mission

The Fralin Biomedical Research Institute makes transformative scientific advances to improve the human experience.

We seek to:
 
  • Understand the fundamental processes of human health and disease.
  • Apply those advances to the improvement of health through improved prevention, diagnostics and therapeutics.
  • Train the next generation of biomedical science leaders.
  • Enhance research-based medical education.
  • Sustain and strengthen the Virginia Tech Carilion academic medicine partnership.