When you think of Pittsburgh, you might still picture the towering steel mills, the iron giants of an industrial era long gone. But today, the foundation laid by those smokestacks is flourishing beyond metal.
Pittsburgh, the once steel capital of the world, is looking to expand its economic identity with life sciences at the heart of its growth. Because while the steel industry forged Pittsburgh’s past and present, its future is also being crafted in labs, biotechs, and research facilities.
“We’re building on our manufacturing legacy,” says Matt Smith, chief growth officer of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development. “It’s about creating opportunities for economic growth and developing our life sciences infrastructure.”
A strategic shift
“Pittsburgh has a history of life-changing medical breakthroughs,” says Smith. The city is home to the polio vaccine development, a moment that Smith adds, paved the way for the current vision, “That tradition of innovation continues today with cutting-edge work in cell and gene therapies,” he adds.
Pittsburgh isn’t just hoping for this transformation to unfold — it’s making it happen by tapping into its academic, industry, and government resources.
The city boasts two powerhouse institutions driving its life sciences sector: the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) and Carnegie Mellon University.
Pitt ranks among the top 20 U.S. universities in terms of research expenditure, boasting over $1 billion in research funding. It stands out in health sciences, ranking in the top 10 nationwide for biological and biomedical sciences. Pitt also shines in its bioengineering and translational research, fueling start-ups in healthcare.
Meanwhile, CMU is renowned for its work at the intersection of AI, robotics, and life sciences, making it a leader in precision medicine and computational biology.
This blend of academic prowess and technological expertise has made Pittsburgh uniquely positioned to lead in life sciences.
Megan Shaw, president & CEO at the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Alliance (PLSA) sums it up, “We have real strengths in AI, data analytics, and chemical engineering.” And it’s this synergy that sets the city up for success, “When you put all of those together, we’re well-positioned to lead in both data-driven healthcare and the manufacturing of next-gen therapeutics.”
The PLSA is leveraging the region’s capabilities in clinical care, research, manufacturing and technology to establish it as a global leader in life sciences and a catalyst for economic growth, pulling resources and people together.
Local companies have already tapped into the benefits of being in proximity to academic institutions. “We have always maintained a very strong relationship with the University of Pittsburgh, including licensing of technologies, taking advantage of some of the leading core facilities, and ongoing research collaborations with faculty,” says Steve Thorne, co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at KaliVir Immunotherapeutics.
The biotech, established in 2019, focuses on developing oncolytic viral immunotherapies for cancer treatment, partnering with pharma companies like Astellas and Roche. “We are also looking to open clinical sites at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Allegheny Health Network to support clinical development of our products,” he adds.
Vision meets opportunity
For Pittsburgh, expanding from an industrial hub to a life sciences leader isn’t just about infrastructure — it’s also about vision. And that vision includes nurturing collaboration at every level.
“Pittsburgh isn’t branded as a pharma hub, but there’s a lot of activity in biotech and biomanufacturing here,” says Smith. “While Philadelphia is considered Pennsylvania’s pharma hub, we have a lot going on in here as well,” he adds.
This collaborative spirit has been critical in attracting major investments from life sciences companies like Elevate Bio, Peptilogics and Krystal Biotech. The stakes are high, and the opportunities even higher.
According to Shaw, it’s this sense of working together that gives Pittsburgh its edge, “Pittsburgh is known for its down-to-earth, hardworking, and collaborative culture. Bringing that spirit together is our biggest opportunity.”
One of Pittsburgh’s flagship projects in its life sciences resurgence is BioForge, a biomanufacturing facility funded by a $100 million grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation and spearheaded by ElevateBio.
The Pitt BioForge building, currently under construction, will be owned by the University of Pittsburgh and will house both the BioForge organization and ElevateBio as tenants.
BioForge is set to open in 2027 and will focus on manufacturing cell and gene therapies — a fast-growing therapeutic market. “BioForge is a great story of economic rejuvenation,” says Heidi Wagner, global head of government affairs at ElevateBio. “It’s a chance to bring cutting-edge science to an area that was pivotal to the country’s industrial development.”
A core mission of BioForge is to ensure that innovation stays right at home.
Wagner highlights a common issue faced by many life sciences hubs: the tendency for innovations to leave town once they take off. “A lot of ideas spin off from academia, but they often end up in places like Boston or the Bay Area, where there’s more of an ecosystem,” she says. “We want to change that, with BioForge, we’re confident that businesses will see the benefit of staying local,” she adds.
And companies are already reaping the rewards of investing in the region. “The cost of lab space keeps us from needing to move to larger biotech hubs,” says Thorne. “We’ve built a strong team here and recently hired our first Chief Financial Officer,” he adds.
Cultivating a workforce for the future
While the city’s universities provide a strong pipeline of highly educated graduates, Pittsburgh is focused on ensuring that there are opportunities for all workers — not just those with advanced degrees and that the workforce ecosystem continues to grow.
“We’ve committed to at least 170 new jobs in Pittsburgh,” says Wagner. Some of those will require advanced scientific knowledge, but many won’t. “We’re working with the University of Pittsburgh to structure programs that can help people transition into these jobs,” she adds.
This effort goes beyond universities. Shaw and the PLSA are looking holistically at workforce development, understanding both current and future needs. “We’ve been focused on creating a demand-driven workforce,” says Shaw. “We’re collaborating with workforce developers in academia, apprenticeship programs, and training initiatives to ensure we have the right talent.”
And this endeavor is supported by biotech companies already rooted in Pittsburgh, like KaliVir. “We hire young, motivated employees, and the low turnover shows their commitment,” says Thorne.
With a pipeline of highly educated graduates from its universities and tailored workforce development programs, Pittsburgh provides companies with a steady stream of skilled labor, enabling them to scale operations efficiently without needing to relocate.
Pittsburgh’s affordability and quality of life are also major draws for both talent and businesses. “The cost of living is low, and the quality of life is consistently ranked among the top in the country,” says Shaw. “People move here and stay because it’s a great place to live. That helps us retain talent, which is crucial for long-term growth,” she adds.
Strategic leadership
No transformation happens without a little help from the top.
Pittsburgh’s life sciences rise has been bolstered by strong support from state and local governments. Pennsylvania has made life sciences a key pillar of its economic development strategy, providing tax incentives, workforce training grants, and other benefits to attract and retain life sciences companies.
Wagner points to Governor Josh Shapiro’s clear commitment to the life sciences sector, “His economic plan is a healthcare plan,” she says. “He sees healthcare jobs as a key driver of economic growth, and that was a big factor in Elevate Bio’s decision to invest in Pittsburgh,” she says.
In addition to R&D and Job Creation tax credits, Pennsylvania offers programs like Pennsylvania First, which helps companies cover costs for infrastructure, equipment, and expansion. WEDnetPA plays a key role in workforce development, reimbursing businesses for training employees in critical industries like life sciences.
On top of that, early-stage companies in Keystone Innovation Zones (KIZ) can take advantage of tax credits aimed at boosting innovation in designated areas, making it easier for them to grow in the region.
A city reinvented
The city’s leadership knows that the life sciences sector isn’t a one-off project — it’s a long-term commitment, followed by deliberate action to build a sustainable future whose benefits can be reaped by the local community.
“We see this as planting seeds,” says Wagner. “It’s about creating a pipeline of talent, innovation, and opportunity that will pay off for years to come.”
Even though BioForge will be fully operational by 2027, the effects of this transformation are already being felt across the city. “Pittsburgh is well on its way to becoming a major player in life sciences,” says Shaw. “And if we can deliver on this potential, the sky’s the limit.”
