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Regenerative Medicine Institute

Discovery. Design. Translation. Reimagining what’s possible in medicine.

Regenerative medicine is revolutionizing how we understand, treat, and heal the human body – pushing the boundaries of science and technology to create solutions once thought impossible. At the Regenerative Medicine Institute, high school students will explore how biology, engineering, and innovation converge to repair, replace, and regenerate tissues and organs, while advancing new frontiers in health and technology.

Through hands-on activities, interactive labs, and direct engagement with researchers and graduate students from the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) and the NSF Regenerative Medicine Engine in North Carolina, participants will experience the full spectrum of regenerative medicine. Students will investigate stem cells, biomaterials, tissue engineering, and enabling technologies, as well as emerging areas such as organ-on-a-chip systems, biomanufacturing, regenerative medicine in space, and the role of artificial intelligence in accelerating discovery and clinical translation.

This immersive experience empowers students to envision themselves as future innovators – exploring cutting-edge research, discovering diverse career pathways, and understanding how breakthroughs move from the lab bench to real-world applications that transform lives.

At a Glance

2027 Dates: Week of July 18-23, 2027

Program Length: Sunday – Friday, overnight

Who Can Apply?: Current 9th – 12th grade students

Tuition: $3,500

*Tuition is subject to change per year

Location: Winston-Salem, NC – Wake Forest University Reynolda Campus

**Courses carry no secondary school or college credit. Upon completion of the program, an official Wake Forest University Certificate of Completion will be awarded to all Regenerative Medicine Institute participants.

What You’ll Experience

Topics Covered:

  • Regenerative Medicine Fundamentals
  • Stem Cells and Progenitor Cells
  • Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering
  • Enabling Technologies and Biomanufacturing
  • Disease Applications (Cancer, Cardiovascular, Metabolic Disorders)
  • Regenerative Medicine in Space and Extreme Environments
  • Career Pathways in Regenerative Medicine and Biomedical Science

 

Hands-On Experiences:

  • Stem cell and tissue engineering simulations
  • Biomaterials design and testing challenges
  • Regenerative medicine technology demonstrations
  • Lab rotations and site visits at WFIRM
  • Research design and problem-solving activities
  • Student research symposium and presentations

*Hands-on experiences are subject to change.

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A Day in the Life

Typical Daily Schedule
  • 8:00 am – Morning Check-In & Breakfast
  • 9:00 am – Welcome & Regenerative Medicine Foundations
  • 10:00 am – Hands-On Lab: Stem Cells & Cellular Decision-Making
  • 11:30 am – Biomaterials Design Challenge
  • 12:30 pm – Lunch with WFIRM Graduate Students and Researchers
  • 1:30 pm – Guest Speaker: Translating Research to Medical Impact
  • 2:15 pm – Enabling Technologies Lab Rotations
  • 3:45 pm – Team Synthesis & Case Study Discussion
  • 4:30 pm – Reflection and Preview of the Next Day
  • 5:30 pm – Dinner
  • 6:30 pm –  Evening Activities
  • 7:30 pm – Free Time
  • 9:00 pm – Prepare for Bed
  • 10:00 pm – Lights Out

*The “A Day in the Life” sample schedule is subject to change. 

Meet the Academic Leader and Graduate Instructors

Dr. Karri Adams

Academic Leader, Regenerative Medicine Institute

Dr. Karri Adams is the Leader of Learning Technology and Global Education at Wake Forest Institute of Regenerative Medicine. She is a forward-thinking and visionary academic leader with a solid history of scholarship, teaching, and leading university mission and vision, strategic planning to accelerate faculty excellence and student success. She leads and coordinates development and enhancement of curriculums, student retention, faculty development, and conducts emerging research that potentially improves academic outcomes and university mission. She has the ability to forge lasting and successful relationships with faculty, students, university leadership, and business stakeholders to promote excellence in teaching, research, and professional service.

Nate Barney

Graduate Instructor, Regenerative Medicine Institute

Nate Barney is a second year Biomedical Engineering Master’s student in the lab of Dr. James Yoo MD, PhD at WFIRM. He received his B.S. in Biological Engineering from Utah State University in 2020 while conducting undergraduate research creating an in vitro model of the human retina under Dr. Elizabeth Vargis PhD. After graduation, Nate worked as a histotechnologist at Myriad Genetics in a pathology laboratory specializing in oncology. He later spent two years as a wilderness adventure guide supporting therapists at Second Nature Family Therapy. Currently, Nate is working on conditioning 3D bioprinted renal constructs using a bioreactor platform he created. He is also working on the NASA project with WFIRM and has sent 3D printed liver tissue to the ISS. His research interests include tissue engineering and regenerative medicine specifically for the kidney and the eye.

Samayeta Sarkar Tuli

Graduate Instructor, Regenerative Medicine Institute

Samayeta Sarkar Tuli is a Ph.D. student in Molecular Medicine and Translational Science at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and a researcher at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM). Her research focuses on developing human-relevant lung tissue models to better understand how environmental and occupational exposures affect lung health. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Biotechnology and previously worked as a researcher and lecturer at the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Passionate about scientific discovery, education, and mentorship, she hopes to pursue a faculty career combining biomedical research and teaching to advance human health and inspire future scientists.

Caleb Heathershaw

Graduate Instructor, Regenerative Medicine Institute

Caleb is a PhD student at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine who spends his time in the lab creating organoids (tiny balls of human cells) for studying heart attacks. After receiving his Bachelors of Science in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Miami, Caleb joined the lab of Dr. Joshua Maxwell to study stem cell-based therapies for cardiovascular disease and investigate the role of immune cells in heart attack repair. In addition to his research, he enjoys teaching as adjunct faculty at Salem College, collecting rare books, and raising an adorable family of Lepidodactylus lugubris. 

Adam Jones

Graduate Instructor, Regenerative Medicine Institute

Adam is a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering at the Virginia Tech – Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences. He is interested in finding cell-based treatments for type 1 diabetes to restore endogenous insulin production. Specifically, he is interested in engineering approaches to improve blood vessel infiltration of transplanted insulin-producing cells, a critical step in ensuring this treatment remains functional long-term in the patient.

Elsa King

Graduate Instructor, Regenerative Medicine Institute

Elsa is a biomedical engineering PhD student at WFIRM. Her current research focuses on developing bioprinted renal constructs using renal-derived extracellular matrix bioinks, with the long-term goal of advancing these constructs for regulatory and patient treatment. Elsa’s broader research interests lie at the intersection of engineering and regenerative medicine, aiming to drive innovation in engineered regenerative technologies.

Olivia Forshaw

Graduate Instructor, Regenerative Medicine Institute

Olivia is a PhD candidate in the Microbiology and Immunology program at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in the lab of Patrick McNutt, PhD. Her primary research focuses on characterizing the antiviral responses of human skin to early dengue virus infections. After graduating with a bachelors of science from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (2021), Olivia completed her master’s degree in biomedical sciences at Wake Forest University in the lab of David Ornelles, PhD. In addition to research, she enjoys reading and being outside with her golden retriever George.

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