The Bent Creek Institute (BCI) conducts innovative translational research to discover, develop and validate natural medicines and integrative strategies for human health and wellness.  BCI endeavors to translate research innovations into sustainable economic advantage for the state. As a part of The North Carolina Arboretum, the BCI is forming productive partnerships, collaborations and programs in research, economic development, medical care, product development and commercialization, conservation, marketing and public outreach to bring international attention to the region’s unparalleled plant biodiversity, exceptional reputation for health and wellness and cultural distinctiveness.

The BCI unique approach to research and production of intellectual property will:

• result in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical product development
• provide a foundation for the design profitable business models for natural product growers and manufacturers statewide
• serve as an international repository and clearing house for the study, protection and careful commercial use of Western North Carolina’s native plants
• develop new tools to help understand the health benefits of natural medicine as well as complementary and alternative medicine
• provide validation for alternative and complementary medicine via clinical trial design and development
• create unique research opportunities for post-doctoral researchers as well as  graduate, undergraduate and K-12 students
• uncover knowledge to drive informed ecological public policy protecting WNC’s unique biodiversity.

Unlocking the secrets of WNC’s vast biodiversity through documented, peer reviewed science will not only provide results for use in alternative and complementary medical treatment of human disease, but will tap into international natural products commerce, a global industry assessed at $200 billion growing annually at 14%. Science that demonstrates the efficacy of WNC herbal medicines can be used to brand regional growers’ products, support higher raw and finished product price points, establish ancillary processing, manufacturing, marketing and distribution businesses and launch WNC as an international location for natural product innovation. BCI’s program is carefully consistent with the NIH Director’s Roadmap for Medical Research and supports the expansion of the increasingly important use of integrative medicine. The ground-breaking work of the BCI and its partners, combined with WNC’s biodiversity, history and existing culture of natural product and alternative therapies suggests a statewide strategy to position WNC as the location for federal research, regulatory and certification programs.