WHERE DISCOVERY
MOVES LIVES
Advancing Life Sciences with Purpose.
Advancing Life Science with Purpose
Life Sciences in NKY: Built on Firsts
Northern Kentucky is building a strong reputation in the life science sector, as a growing number of companies choose the region for research, innovation, business growth and manufacturing. Life sciences employment grew by 42% from 2020 to 2025 based on our defined target industry. Biotechnology firms, pharmaceutical companies, and medical research organizations leverage the region’s strategic location, skilled workforce, and supportive business environment. This expansion in the life sciences sector powers new discoveries and scientific progress. Through strong university partnerships and expanding research initiatives, Northern Kentucky attracts companies seeking to innovate and grow within the industry.
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine – Second-oldest public college of medicine in the U.S.
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center – A top-ranked children’s hospital in the U.S. for 15+ years.
- CTI Clinical Trial & Consulting Services – Supported over half of global FDA and EMA cell and gene therapy approvals.
- Bexion Pharmaceuticals – Developing a first-in-class cancer therapy (BXQ-350) with promising clinical results.
- Wood Hudson Cancer Research Laboratory – Home to more than 2 million human tissue specimens, the only repository of its kind in Kentucky.
- LifeSciKY – Supporting 6 life sciences startups through lab space, resources, and innovation programming.
“This region is a great place to start and build a company. The culture and the people of Northern Kentucky really make a difference. I couldn’t imagine doing this anywhere else.”
DAN JANKA
President, Mazak North America
Where Region Meets Opportunity
- #2 Emerging hub for Life Sciences (Business Facilities, 2025)
- #6 Largest cargo airport in North America (Air Cargo World, 2024)
- >#6 Largest exporter of pharmaceutical and medicine (ITA, 2023)
- One-day drive to 54% of the United States Population
- 55+ nonstop flights out of CVG
- DHL Express Global Superhub and Amazon Air cargo hubs at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
Life Sciences in Northern Kentucky
Northern Kentucky is home to many life science organizations, with concentrations in key sectors including biomedical research, gene therapy, medical device manufacturing, and health informatics.
Biomedical Research
Gene Therapy
Medical Device Manufacturing
Pharmaceuticals
Biomedical research involves exploring biological processes to help prevent, diagnose, and treat disease.
Gene therapy is an emerging field that involves the modification of genetic material to treat disease.
Medical device manufacturing includes the design and development of products across multiple life science applications.
Featuring reliable fiber, power, water quality and capacity for MES/QMS, Northern Kentucky helps pharmaceutical manufacturers move from shortlist to execution fast.
Education
There are 25 four-year colleges/universities and 11 community and technical colleges located about 75 miles from Northern Kentucky. In addition, regional universities are also important producers of Life Sciences talent. In 2019, the University of Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky University, and Miami University collectively awarded 3,800 health professional degrees. This includes Northern Kentucky University’s Health Informatics program. The Cincinnati region is the #1 best city in the nation for college graduates. (Source: SmartAsset 2022)
LifeSciKY, a nonprofit life sciences incubator in Covington, operates a 15,000-square-foot wet lab facility to support early-stage life sciences companies with lab space, wrap-around services and more than $1 million in state-of-the-art equipment. Its Innovation Fellows program provides undergraduate and graduate students with hands-on experience in the life sciences industry, including opportunities for personalized mentorship and working on impactful projects alongside industry leaders. STEM Horizons engages Kentucky students from elementary to high school through hands-on STEM experiences and lab tours, encouraging curiosity and a passion for discovery.
Want To Learn More?
Connect with Kimberly!
Kimberly Rossetti
VP of Economic Development
Kimberly leads BE NKY’s economic development team, which is focused on attracting new businesses to Northern Kentucky and helping our existing primary industry companies grow and expand. Her team works with elected officials and leaders in Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties, community partners, REDI Cincinnati, and the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development in helping companies make the significant business decision of investing in our region.
