The BCI is organized around four research divisions.

• Agriculture and Botanical Research Division
  Plant collection, preservation, conservation and research. This Division will contain North American’s first medicinal Germplasm repository, and conduct genetics research, breeding/optimization and medicinal species regional mapping.

• Molecular Research Division
  Utilization of natural products chemistry, systems biology, and pharmacology to understand active constituents in plants and to design and commercialize new pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals.

• Clinical Research Division
  Utilization of natural products chemistry, systems biology, and pharmacology to understand active constituents in plants and to design and commercialize new pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals.

• Health and Wellness Division
  Scientific validation of natural product, alternative and complementary treatment efficacy supporting health and wellness practitioner delivery and expanding the regional integrative medicine industry.

Each of these separate divisions will focus on providing new knowledge for the advancement of the medical and agricultural industries with new commercialization, product and service development outcomes.  Importantly, they will connect conventional and alternative care givers and communities and will partner with leading health care providers in establishing clinical trials for herbal therapies. The agricultural community will be served through the identification of native botanicals that demonstrate active properties leading to valuable market positions. These divisions will collectively support the creation of a vertically integrated and sustainable industry premised on WNC’s existing natural and cultural characteristics and its small-grower industrial base. The advantage of research, intellectual property production and first rate expertise along with the well known desirability of the region will attract new and existing nutraceutical companies as the worldwide demand for these products continues to expand. Working with its broad partnership base and consistent with the visionary research, education and economic development goals of The North Carolina Arboretum, BCI has the potential to transform WNC into a location known globally for its leadership in this rapidly growing economic arena.