
Life Science TN Foundation’s mission is to promote, within the state of Tennessee, the Southeastern US and beyond:
1. Knowledge of, and education in, STEM and the biosciences
2. Innovation and entrepreneurship in STEM and the biosciences
3. The positive impact of STEM and the biosciences on human health.
Life Science Tennessee Foundation, formerly BioTN, is a 501(C)(3) foundation affiliated with Life Science Tennessee. The two organizations first aligned in 2020 to advance the dual mission to grow the bioscience industry and promote biotech education and entrepreneurship across the state of Tennessee. Since that announcement, LST and BioTN have advocated for and developed policies and programs that support economic and workforce development, increase research and development, and strengthen technology commercialization.
Life Science Tennessee Foundation partners with Life Science Tennessee and Launch Tennessee to build and grow innovative life science companies and jobs in Tennessee. Co-founded by serial life science entrepreneurs, the Foundation is focused on the critical areas of entrepreneurship, access to capital, education and workforce development to help Tennessee’s grow into a major hub of research and development that will improve the lives of Tennesseans, as well as those that benefit from Tennessee products around the world.
Life Science TN Foundation offers extensive programming to promote and guide entrepreneurs, industry professionals, graduate students, Ph.D. candidates and post-doctoral researchers who want to engage with Tennessee’s industry leaders, pursue entrepreneurship, and scale companies. A key offering of the Life Science Tennessee Foundation is the Life Science Venture Program, an accelerator program offering a flexible, customized approach for life science startups ready to commercialize, connect to capital, and scale their technologies. Karrie Dudek, Ph.D., an experienced bioscience entrepreneur, directs the program.
“We’re proud to more closely align the new Life Science Tennessee Foundation with our industry association,” said Glenn Perdue, chairman of Life Science Tennessee and managing member of Kraft Analytics. “It is important that stakeholders in Tennessee understand how established companies can support our emerging startup ecosystem to bolster the industry writ large. Our partnership strengthens this important objective.”
Our Programs

Changing lives through science
This been our purpose since the Life Science Tennessee Foundation was founded in 2007 when Leslie Wisner-Lynch, DDS, DMSc launched our non-profit organization with her husband Sam Lynch, DMD, DMSc. Today, over a decade later, we’re still investing in people and ideas, in the greatest state in the union. Our “Learn, Grow, Build” mantra represents how we do it.
“Our partnership with Life Science Tennessee has greatly expanded our ability to advance STEM education and entrepreneurship across the state,” said Dr. Sam Lynch, co-founder and chairman of Life Science Tennessee Foundation and CEO and chairman of Lynch Regenerative Medicine.
Meet our Program Staff



Life Science Tennessee Foundation Board Members
Samuel Lynch, DMD, DMSc | Lynch Biologics, LLC |
Glenn Perdue, MBA | Kraft Analytics, LLC |
Lawrence J. Marnett, PhD | Vanderbilt University |
Shawn H. Glinter, MBA | Pendant Biosciences |
Randy Bury, MBA | Johnson & Johnson (retired) |
Bruce Doeg | Baker Donelson |
Eric Elmquist, PhD | Pendant Biosciences, Inc |
Kristin McGraner, Ed.D. | STEM Preparatory Academy |
Abby Trotter | Life Science Tennessee |
Kearstin Patterson | HCA Healthcare |