The innovations derived from gene therapy in Northern Kentucky continue the region’s history of healthcare breakthroughs. The area has long been known for:

  • Scientific advancements
  • Cutting-edge research
  • Lab-based innovations
  • Targeted discoveries
  • Idea exploration

The importance of health care to the region spans two centuries. In 1819 the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine was established. This still-popular institution is the second-oldest college of medicine open to the public in the United States. More recently, Covington-based CTI Clinical Trial and Consulting Services was honored as the top-ranked CRO (contract research organization) in the world.

This legacy of innovation, which today continues through the life sciences in Northern Kentucky, is supported by:

  • A wide base of university education and research
  • Strong, skilled talent pool
  • Strategic planning and development
  • Business incubators and startup support
  • Robust public infrastructure and growth incentives 

Northern Kentucky’s Life Sciences Industry

Gene therapy is one of the emerging segments of the life sciences industry in Northern Kentucky. Other key segments include:

Together, across a five-year period starting in 2020, the entire life sciences industry in Northern Kentucky is expected to see nearly 50% growth. 

“This region is a great place to start and build a company.”
– Tony Remington, President & CEO, Gravity Diagnostics  

A Ready Workforce

There are over 1.5 million workers currently living in the Northern Kentucky region. Nearly 40,000 of them are employed in a field that is directly involved in life sciences in Northern Kentucky, or in supporting that work across the region. They include:

  • Biochemists
  • Botanical manufacturers
  • Social science technicians
  • Chemical technicians
  • Medical scientists
  • Natural science managers
  • Research and development in biotechnologists

The average median salary across all fields is $91,700 (in Northern Kentucky).

A Wealth of Employment Opportunities

There are over 20 companies that employ the majority of those involved in biotech in Northern Kentucky. They are concentrated in:

  • Medical research
  • Pharmaceutical research
  • Healthcare
  • Lab equipment and supply manufacturing
  • Corporate operations

A Commitment to Research and Education

There are 25 4-year universities and colleges, as well as 11 community and technical schools, all within a 75-mile radius of Northern Kentucky. An average of 80,000 students graduate from the various programs at these schools each year, including many from a program that will give them a strong start in a life sciences field. Two of those programs can be found at:

  • Northern Kentucky University has a Biological Sciences track. Many students who have graduated with this degree have gone into a research career.
  • Thomas More University where students can earn a life sciences degree that will set them up to enter a number of biotech fields. According to the school, many graduates have pursued opportunities in healthcare or in academia in a research role.

There are also learning opportunities outside of traditional classrooms. Covington Life Sciences Partners (CLSP) is set to open a 15,000 sq. ft. space in the OneNKY Center.  CLSP will have a state-of-the-art wet lab, and other modern facilities, to support their mission of education and science advancement.

Regional Advantages For Northern Kentucky Biotech Companies

Companies involved in biotech fields in Northern Kentucky have found a number of advantages for expansion and growth in the region.

Financial incentives

Local, and state governments, have recognized the potential biotech in Northern Kentucky offers. That’s why they have put into place a number of business incentives designed to welcome new biotech companies to the region and help existing companies expand operations. These programs include:

Robust utility infrastructure

The utilities in the region have been established to meet business where it is today and where it is heading. Some of the utility benefits in the region include:

  • Kentucky’s commercial electrical costs are 11% below the national average.
  • Northern Kentucky, and the surrounding communities, utilize an array of fiber optics that is so vast it has been called “one of the most wired communities in the world.”
  • Renewable energy is becoming a widely available solution. The projected growth of solar power in the region will put Kentucky in the top twenty solar-powered states by 2029.

Business Incubation

There are a number of innovation centers in the region to support the development of new businesses. One of those groups, Blue North, helps connect entrepreneurs with resources and opportunities.

SoCap Accelerate, hosted by Northern Kentucky University, is a program designed to advance health innovation by providing social capital—such as mentorship, industry connections, and real-world testing opportunities—to emerging companies aiming to improve global health.

Life Science Success Stories

Companies across the biotechnology industry have found success in Northern Kentucky. Some of those are:

  • Bexion, based in Covington. A “mid-stage clinical company developing life-changing treatments in oncology and CNS.” In 2024, they announced a new phase of a novel cancer treatment. Bexion benefited from the SBIR-STTR match in KY.
  • Viacord, which helps new families find peace of mind with their innovative cord blood bank. They can not only store a newborn’s stem cells but also use them to produce DNA insights into their potential future health.
  • Gravity Diagnostics is a CAP-accredited, CLIA-certified laboratory. With headquarters in Covington, they offer a range of diagnostic testing services.
  • Ethos Labs recently made a $2M investment in the region. With the investment, they expanded their Campbell County laboratory, creating over 300 jobs in the process. They can now provide a series of comprehensive disease assessments among other targeted tests.

Trends and Opportunities in Gene Therapy

Gene therapy is currently a $2.4B business. It is projected that number will grow at a rate just over 19% annually through the next ten years. Two of the drivers of this growth will be improvements in technology and the merger of data with AI.

Technology Speeds Up

Gene therapy innovation will be driven in many ways by improvements in technologies. Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats, commonly known as CRISPR, is one of those technologies. It’s a tool that can be used by scientists to modify DNA. CRISPR was recently used to help devise a simple COVID test.

Advancing Care With AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) can be used as a predictive tool, as well as a prescriptive one. AI can be used to identify patterns and predict the potential unintended effects of gene-sequence editing. And in some cases, AI will be used to locate biomarkers that can help set patient treatment patterns.

Support for the Future

The growth of life sciences in Northern Kentucky will happen with the support of public and private partnerships. 

  • Funding opportunities
  • Government support programs
  • R&D grants 

are just some of the tools that are available to gene therapy companies. These can be used to advance new ideas, attract new talent, build new spaces for research, and make necessary site improvements.

The Strength of Gene Therapy in Northern Kentucky

Between 2014 and 2019, the biomedical industry across the Northern Kentucky region exploded at a pace of growth of 80%. Today, the industry in the region continues to follow an upward trajectory. And it’s not hard to see why. 

Guiding this growth has been the job of  BE NKY Growth Partnership. Ranked as one of the top 20 economic development companies in the United States, they are helping connect companies with the business resources and spaces that they need to grow successfully. 

Companies interested in becoming part of a successful, established life sciences industry involved in gene therapy innovation should contact BE NKY today.