The North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis, NC, is a 350-acre research center located just north of Charlotte, NC. The campus is a scientific community that collaboratively works to empower human health through nutrition. Eight universities, the David H. Murdock Research Institute, companies, and entrepreneurs focus research and development on safer, more nutritious crops, healthier foods, and precision nutrition.

Research and product development is collaborative and multi-disciplinary. Focus areas are as varied as phytochemicals in fruits, vegetables, grains, and herbs; exercise physiology; post-harvest physiology; population-based, genetic studies; and precision nutrition. The growing base of scientific knowledge combines new understandings of how nutrients, plant phytochemicals, the environment, and lifestyle choices impact brain and fetal development, cancer, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, fatty liver, and other metabolic disorders.

As emerging manufacturing and product development core is focused on research into plant-based ingredients and new processing methods and packaging possibilities. In 2019, a new NC Food Innovation Lab opened on campus and serves the state by keeping commodities grown in North Carolina in the state for processing.

Education is a cornerstone of the campus. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College offers two-year degrees in biotechnology and nursing in their training center which is within walking distance from all of the campus’ research centers.

Beyond a research center, the NC Research Campus is an economic driver creating over 1,000 jobs and playing a critical role in the development of the city of Kannapolis and the Charlotte area’s growing life science sector.

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