Jeff Warren answers 10 questions about NC Collaboratory’s first decade
For the organization’s 10th anniversary, its executive director reflects on 10 years of science, policy and solutions.
Since 2016, the North Carolina Collaboratory has helped apply the expertise of the state’s world-class researchers to challenges facing communities across the state.
Created by the North Carolina General Assembly, the Collaboratory serves as a bridge between research, policy and public need. Over the past decade, the Collaboratory has supported more than 800 research projects and partnerships, addressing issues ranging from drinking water and disaster recovery to public health, education and economic development.
Read North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein’s proclamation in recognition of the Collaboratory’s anniversary.
As the organization celebrates its 10th anniversary, executive director Jeff Warren reflects on the lessons, milestones and vision that have shaped the Collaboratory’s first decade.
What problem did the Collaboratory set out to solve in its earliest days?
There needed to be a central mechanism to bridge the legislature and academia so the expertise and resources within North Carolina’s universities could be leveraged to help address the questions facing policymakers. The idea was simple but ambitious: connect the state’s toughest challenges with the higher education institutions across North Carolina.
The mobile water filtration trailer installed at Pleasant Garden’s Fire Department in Guilford County. The system provides a reliable source of clean drinking water for firefighters and station personnel. The installation is part of the NC Collaboratory’s statewide effort to test fire station wells for PFAS contamination and help affected departments access safe water. (Submitted photo)
What did success look like in the beginning — and how has that evolved?
In the beginning, success simply meant proving the model could work. Over time, success became about trust and broad buy-in. Today, legislators from both chambers and both parties regularly turn to the Collaboratory for support, and researchers understand they can contribute meaningful work while maintaining academic integrity.
When did you realize the Collaboratory had become something bigger than originally envisioned?
One major turning point came in 2018, when the General Assembly made significant investments in flood resiliency and PFAS research. Those were not one-time studies — they were long-term, statewide efforts that showed lawmakers viewed the Collaboratory as a serious research partner. Another defining moment came during COVID-19, when the Collaboratory helped coordinate research and response efforts across nearly every UNC System institution. That period demonstrated the scale at which the model could operate and reinforced the value of having a trusted academic partner that could respond quickly during moments of statewide need.
Policymakers and researchers at the Sweeney Water Treatment Plant in Wilmington, North Carolina, listening to professor Frank Leibfarth discuss the NC Pure pilot project.
How has the scope of the Collaboratory’s work changed over the past decade?
The early work focused primarily on natural resources and environmental issues, but the scope expanded significantly over time. While the science and policy work are important, the Collaboratory’s focus has always been on solutions — whether supporting disaster recovery, helping improve foster care recruitment and retention, building a growing portfolio of research partnerships focused on improving outcomes for North Carolina students and schools or developing new technologies to address urgent drinking water concerns. The common thread is helping North Carolina respond to complex challenges with practical, evidence-based solutions.
Which project best represents what the Collaboratory does at its core?
The Collaboratory’s PFAS work with firefighters and rural fire stations represents the organization at its best because it combines cutting-edge science with rapid deployment of assets in direct service to the public. Researchers are advancing understanding around PFAS exposure while also helping communities respond in real time. In this situation, the solution was as immediate as a 6,000-gallon tanker of food-grade water delivered within 24 hours of identifying a problem to a community in need. This work in particular reflects the Collaboratory’s mission: Science. Policy. Results.
Researchers at the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences exploring coastal marshes as part of a living shoreline project.
(UNC Research)
How have you seen research directly influence decision-making in North Carolina?
The Collaboratory’s role is to provide trusted data, expertise and evidence-based analysis that helps inform decisions. Sometimes that means consulting with policymakers to provide a better understanding of a complex issue, identifying research gaps or connecting experts across institutions and agencies. Sometimes the most important step is simply picking up the phone and working on a solution together.
What have you learned about working at the intersection of research, policy and public need?
We’ve learned the importance of helping bridge the worlds of science, public policy and solutions. Researchers bring expertise, but communities and practitioners bring lived experience and practical insight. When those perspectives come together, the work becomes more actionable, more responsive, and ultimately more valuable to the state.
During the SPARK-FC Legislative Convening, partners shared findings and lived experiences from North Carolina’s Foster Care Parent Recruitment and Retention Pilot Program, helping inform future policy decisions, targeted investments, and support for foster families statewide. (Submitted photo)
How has the role of state-supported research evolved over the past decade?
In the early years, the model was more reactive — the legislature requested studies, and the Collaboratory carried them out. Over time, the role evolved into something more proactive and strategic. Today, the Collaboratory helps identify emerging issues, connect expertise across institutions and develop initiatives designed to address long-term challenges before they fully escalate. This evolution has allowed the state to better leverage the strengths of North Carolina’s higher education system — not only to answer questions, but to help North Carolina move from reacting to problems to ultimately providing solutions for them.
Why is North Carolina uniquely positioned to lead in this space?
As Bill Friday famously said, “The UNC System is the crown jewel of North Carolina.” That spirit is reflected in the collaboration and expertise found across the state today. North Carolina’s public and private universities bring world-class expertise, advanced research infrastructure, and strong community connections. That combination — research excellence, collaboration and a shared commitment to public service — has positioned our state as a national leader in connecting academic expertise with real-world impact.
What challenges will define the Collaboratory’s next 10 years?
Many of the state’s biggest challenges will continue to center around issues that directly affect people’s daily lives: clean water, public health, education, mental health and foster care. Emerging issues like microplastics and artificial intelligence will also require thoughtful, interdisciplinary approaches. The Collaboratory’s role will continue to bring together experts from across North Carolina to help the state better understand complex problems and develop evidence-based solutions. The next decade will require innovation, collaboration and a continued commitment to using science and expertise in service to North Carolinians.
