At Wake Forest University, a powerful convergence of initiatives and resources is fueling remarkable momentum in neuroscience. Guided by our Strategic Framework, we’re building a thriving “community of inquiry” where innovative research in neuroscience and society is one of five pillars of academic excellence. This vision is supported by an array of interdisciplinary programs, research facilities, and collaborative spaces designed to nurture inquiry, foster leadership, and drive societal impact.

From the Program for Leadership and Character to the dynamic WakerSpace and Wake Downtown, these resources provide a foundation for creativity, ethical scholarship, and groundbreaking discovery. Additionally, partnerships like Innovation Quarter and The Pearl in Charlotte connect Wake Forest’s strengths with broader communities, accelerating advances that shape the future of science, healthcare, and technology. Explore the links below to see how these resources are propelling Wake Forest to the forefront of neuroscience and beyond.



The Program for Leadership and Character consists of faculty and staff from a diverse group of disciplines and backgrounds who study and assess leadership and character, as well as students who take on the important and challenging work of developing their leadership and character.


Wake Forest University’s Office of Research and Sponsored Programs supports the Vice Provost for Research, Scholarly Inquiry and Creative Activity in building research programs of nationally recognized excellence. They assist Reynolda Campus faculty in their pursuit and management of sponsored activities; work to assure ethical research achievement, especially involving human subjects, in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations; protect the university’s interests; and acknowledge and publicize faculty distinction.


WakerSpace is Wake Forest University’s collaborative makerspace, dedicated to fostering creativity, innovation, and problem-solving. Open to students, faculty, and staff, it provides a hands-on environment enriched with tools like 3D printers, laser cutters, woodworking equipment, and even a podcast studio. Here, formal and informal learning merge as the Wake Forest community engages in projects that inspire ingenuity and curiosity, embodying the University’s spirit of Pro Humanitate and liberal arts tradition.


Wake Downtown is the locus of Wake Forest University’s three new undergraduate academic programs in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (BMB), Medicinal Chemistry & Drug Discovery, and Engineering.

In addition to the three anchor programs, Wake Downtown also serves as an interdisciplinary hub, hosting courses from academic departments in the arts and humanities that benefit from the building’s innovative teaching spaces and urban setting.


Home to Wake Downtown, Innovation Quarter is one of the leading innovation districts in the US. It creates an ecosystem where ideas can grow, collaborations can emerge, and everyone can thrive. From startups to sole proprietors to emerging and established businesses, companies in the Innovation Quarter create a vital entrepreneurial community that contributes to national innovation culture and serves the people who live, work, learn and play in and around this vibrant district.


Developed in partnership between Atrium Health and Wexford Science & Technology, The Pearl leverages the partners’ experience and forward-thinking approach to embrace new ideas, research and technologies that will advance healthcare solutions and welcome people from all walks of life within our community.

Having broken ground in Q1 2023, The Pearl will be a multi-phased, mixed-use development featuring office, lab, retail, residential, including affordable housing, community gathering and academic spaces. The first phase of the District includes Charlotte’s first four-year medical school, Wake Forest University School of Medicine Charlotte.