Pittsburgh Health Care and Life Sciences

A major driver of Pittsburgh's transformation has been the growth of its health care and life sciences industries. The birthplace of the polio vaccine as well as the multiple organ transplant, the Pittsburgh region is a cultivator of life-saving technologies. Along with our reputation as a world-renowned organ transplantation center, there has been significant growth of newer, thriving commercial ventures spanning the life sciences cluster - from medical equipment, devices and supplies, to health services, bio research, regenerative medicine and pharmaceuticals.

The consistent growth in our robust health care sector - from 68,000 people employed in 1979 to 152,000 employed today - has helped to offset our industrial job losses of the 1970s and 1980s. The strength of the industry also provides the foundation for innovation in the life sciences. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) is an $8 billion global health enterprise, integrating 20 hospitals, more than 400 outpatient sites, a major insurance division, and an international and commercial unit that shares its medical, management and technology expertise around the globe. It’s our region’s largest employer and consistently ranks as one of the nation’s top 15 hospitals (U.S. News and World Report).

While the region is home to life science veterans – including Bayer Corporation, Philips Respironics, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. and MEDRAD, INC. - it also provides a supportive environment for start-ups to flourish. With one of the nation's highest concentration of medical scientists, our region is a top recipient of National Institutes of Health (NIH) R+D funding.

Historic strength in manufacturing enhances our biomedical engineering capabilities today. That, combined with our cutting-edge biotechnology and medical research, gives the Pittsburgh region a unique ability to create the life sciences solutions of tomorrow. The region was recently deemed "No. 1 in the United States for Venture Capital Growth" by MoneyTree. Visit the Pittsburgh Technology Council's special G-20 page with recent updated data and details on regional tech-related industries of excellence.

A variety of world-class research centers support and distinguish the region's life sciences sector. These include: the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine; the Pittsburgh Tissue Engineering Initiative (PTEI); and the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center (PSC), a leading partner of the National Science Foundation. The University of Pittsburgh is a leading center for biomedical research. With more than 1,700 faculty members and 33 departments engaged in life sciences research, it is ranked No. 4 in the nation for its number of NIH grants received.

An example of how our region leverages collaboration for innovation is the Quality of Life Technology (QoLT) Center, a National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center (ERC) and a partnership between two world-leading research institutions - Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh. These universities are working together to transform the lives of people with reduced functional capabilities due to aging or disability.

Centers like the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse (PLSG), Innovation Works, The Technology Collaborative and the Pittsburgh Technology Council help entrepreneurs bring innovations to the marketplace.