This first initiative will expand AIBody digital physiology technology at Spartanburg Community College and VCOM–Carolinas, advancing healthcare education, workforce development, and life science commercialization in Spartanburg.
SPARTANBURG, S.C., Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Palmetto InnovaSphere, Inc. is pleased to announce a grant award from the Spartanburg County Foundation to support the launch of the Spartanburg Education and Innovation Consortium, an initiative designed to bring emerging life science and healthcare technologies directly into the region's academic institutions while strengthening the connection between innovation, education, and workforce development.
The Consortium's first project will support the implementation and expansion of AIBody, an advanced digital physiology and clinical simulation platform, at Spartanburg Community College (SCC) and the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM–Carolinas).
The award represents an important milestone in InnovaSphere's work as a life science commercialization institute and execution engine, demonstrating how emerging technologies can move beyond initial development into real-world applications that benefit educational institutions, students, healthcare professionals, and the broader community.
"This grant is especially meaningful because it represents exactly what we envisioned when we established InnovaSphere. Our work is not simply about identifying promising innovations. It is about helping those innovations become successful, commercially viable companies while creating meaningful value for the communities they serve. Through the generous support of the Spartanburg County Foundation and the commitment of our academic partners, we are bringing an innovative life science technology directly into our classrooms and clinical training environments. We are strengthening the pathway between education, industry, and commercialization, and demonstrating what can happen when we work collaboratively toward a common vision. This is just the beginning of what we intend to build in Spartanburg, the State of South Carolina and the Southeast Region."
— Cecilia Zapata-Harms, Founder and CEO, Palmetto InnovaSphere
Bringing Innovation Directly into Higher-Education
AIBody is an innovative digital physiology platform that uses advanced computational models of the human body, interactive simulations, and AI-enabled learning tools to help students understand physiological processes, evaluate clinical conditions, and strengthen clinical reasoning and decision-making.
Unlike traditional simulation technologies that primarily focus on observing symptoms or practicing clinical interventions, AIBody enables students to explore the underlying physiology driving a patient's condition, connecting scientific knowledge with real-world clinical practice.
"We are delighted to partner with Palmetto Innovasphere on this exciting initiative, made possible by the Spartanburg County Foundation. This is a fantastic opportunity to build on our existing relationships with VCOM Carolinas and Spartanburg Community College, bringing our advanced physiology simulation technology into the classroom to enhance the education and training of the next generation of healthcare professionals. We are incredibly proud to be part of this journey and to contribute to the growing healthcare education community in Spartanburg."
— Kiril Tasseff, CEO, AIBody
Both SCC and VCOM have already participated in early demonstrations and pilot experiences with the technology, providing a foundation for broader curriculum integration.
At Spartanburg Community College, the initiative will build on earlier work within the School of Nursing, expanding opportunities for faculty and students to use physiology-based simulations in nursing education and potentially across additional health science disciplines, including emergency medical services, respiratory therapy, medical assisting, and pre-health programs.
"At Spartanburg Community College, we believe the future of higher education will be defined by institutions willing to embrace innovation and transform how students learn," said Dr. Michael Mikota, President of Spartanburg Community College. "Through our partnership with Palmetto InnovaSphere and the support of the Spartanburg County Foundation, we are pioneering new ways to integrate emerging technology into immersive, hands-on learning, strengthening clinical reasoning and preparing students for an increasingly sophisticated healthcare environment. This investment gives us the opportunity to lead by demonstrating what is possible when innovation and education come together."— Dr. Michael Mikota, President, Spartanburg Community College
At VCOM–Carolinas, the project will advance the integration of AIBody into medical education through high-fidelity clinical simulations, instructor-led workshops, and independent learning experiences. The platform offers students an opportunity to connect cellular and systemic physiology with patient assessment and clinical decision-making.
"Medical education continues to evolve, and it is increasingly important that our students have access to technologies that bring complex scientific concepts into practical clinical settings. AIBody offers a compelling approach to helping students understand not only what is happening with a patient, but also the underlying physiological mechanisms that explain why it is happening. Through our collaboration with InnovaSphere and the support of the Spartanburg County Foundation, we have an opportunity to further evaluate and integrate innovative educational tools that can help prepare the next generation of physicians."
— Dr. Matthew Cannon, Dean, VCOM – Carolinas, InnovaSphere Board Member
Investing in Spartanburg's Future
The Spartanburg County Foundation's investment supports more than the implementation of a single technology. It establishes the foundation for a sustainable model of collaboration between academic institutions, emerging life science companies, and community partners.
The Consortium is designed to provide participating institutions access to emerging technologies developed by InnovaSphere's portfolio of innovator companies, creating opportunities for applied learning, faculty engagement, technology evaluation, and future collaborative research.
"This initiative reflects the power of investing in partnerships that connect education, innovation, and long-term community impact. By bringing together Palmetto InnovaSphere, Spartanburg Community College, VCOM, and an emerging technology company such as AIBody, we are supporting new opportunities for students and educators while strengthening the talent pipeline that is so important to Spartanburg's future. We are pleased to support an initiative that has the potential to grow, reach additional institutions, and create lasting benefits for our community."
— Troy Hanna, Spartanburg County Foundation, CEO
The initiative also aligns with broader regional economic development efforts to position Spartanburg as a growing center for life sciences, healthcare innovation, and advanced workforce development.
"Building a thriving life science economy requires more than attracting companies. It requires the talent, infrastructure, partnerships, and commercialization resources that allow those companies to succeed and grow here. What InnovaSphere is doing through the Education and Innovation Consortium is an excellent example of connecting those elements. We are creating opportunities for innovative companies while strengthening our educational institutions and developing the workforce that will support the next generation of life science businesses in Spartanburg. This is the kind of collaborative approach that will help drive our region's long-term economic competitiveness."
— Allen Smith, President and CEO, OneSpartanburg, Inc.; InnovaSphere Board Member
A Commercialization Model Designed to Grow
Future projects will seek to introduce additional life science, digital health, and biotechnology innovations into educational and applied learning environments, building a scalable framework that benefits students, institutions, industry, and the regional economy.
For InnovaSphere, the AIBody implementation marks the beginning of a much larger effort: building a connected life science innovation ecosystem where promising technologies are not only discovered and developed, but successfully commercialized, adopted, and scaled, creating lasting value for Spartanburg and South Carolina.
About Palmetto InnovaSphere
Palmetto InnovaSphere, Inc. is a Spartanburg-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit life science commercialization institute dedicated to advancing early-stage innovations from discovery to commercial success. Serving as a hands-on commercialization execution engine and catalyst, InnovaSphere connects innovators and companies with strategic expertise, industry partners, academic and healthcare institutions, manufacturing resources, and commercialization pathways. Through its growing network across South Carolina and beyond, InnovaSphere is helping build a stronger, more connected life science economy. Learn more at www.InnovaSphereSC.org.
About the Spartanburg County Foundation
The Spartanburg County Foundation is committed to improving the lives of Spartanburg County residents by promoting philanthropy, encouraging community engagement, and responding to community needs. Established in 1943, the Spartanburg County Foundation is the oldest community foundation in South Carolina. Additional information about the Foundation is available at www.spcf.org.
Media Contact
David Lawrence, 3rdeyeBio, LLC, 1 2068410075, [email protected], 3rdeyebio.com
SOURCE Palmetto InnovaSphere, Inc.
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