NSF CMaT’s Cell Therapy Biomanufacturing Courses Train Hundreds Around the Globe
Outcome/Accomplishment
The National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Engineering Research Center (ERC) for Cell Manufacturing Technologies (NSF CMaT) has successfully trained more than 380 participants across the globe through its virtual and hands-on training programs. NSF CMaT’s flagship virtual training course, “The Principles and Applications of Cell Therapy Biomanufacturing, Characterization, and Regulatory,”(Figure 1) is now offered multiple times per year to train and retrain industry professionals. CMaT’s Hands-on Training Program (Figure 2) has been offered in 2024 and 2025 at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) to complement the virtual training course. Both courses are made available in collaboration with the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT), a leading scientific society focused on translational aspects of developing cell-based therapeutics. CMaT is based at Georgia Tech.
Impact/Benefits
: Education and re-education of the existing biomanufacturing workforce is critical to the success of new advanced cell manufacturing-based therapies. The limited number of skilled workers has developed into a serious barrier for rapid growth and product development for companies and clinical manufacturing centers across the cell and gene therapy sector. Through the virtual and hands-on training programs offered by CMaT, over 380 participants across the globe have been trained.
Explanation/Background
: NSF CMaT began collaborations with ISCT on the development of a cell and gene therapy biomanufacturing professional training program in 2020. The goal of the program is to train a new workforce or retrain the existing workforce entering the field. The nine-week, part-time virtual training program is now well-established and offered multiple times per year. The curriculum consists of topics central to therapeutic cell manufacturing. Key topics in cell and gene therapy manufacturing and development are covered across four modules: (1) Stem Cell and Immune Cell Engineering and Therapies; (2) Quality Assurance and Regulatory Framework and Roundtable; (3) Cell Bioprocessing and Manufacturing Roundtable; and, (4) Cell Product Characterization and Importance of Standards. The modules include twelve asynchronous lectures; each lecture contains a theory component delivered by academic experts and an application component delivered by an industry expert. Through multiple live sessions corresponding to each module, participants can ask questions and clarify any content-related misconceptions.
The Hands-on Training Program launched in 2024 with a week-long Bootcamp for Cell Therapy hosted at Georgia Tech’s Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience and the Marcus Center for Therapeutic Cell Characterization and Manufacturing. The inaugural program included immersive sessions in both Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). The program was re-offered in September 2025 as a five-day course. Participants are trained to initiate, maintain, scale up, and cryopreserve adherent and suspension cells using aseptic techniques and under GMP guidelines. Topics covered include Safety and Best Practices; Working with Cell Culture and Ensuring Purity; Advancing Cell Cultivation Techniques; the GMP Facility; and Mastering Cell Analysis Techniques. Upon completion of the course, participants receive a certificate and 30 Continuing Medical Laboratory Education (CMLE) credits.
Location
Atlanta, GeorgiaStart Year
Advanced Manufacturing
Advanced Manufacturing
Lead Institution
Core Partners
Fact Sheet
Outcome/Accomplishment
The National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Engineering Research Center (ERC) for Cell Manufacturing Technologies (NSF CMaT) has successfully trained more than 380 participants across the globe through its virtual and hands-on training programs. NSF CMaT’s flagship virtual training course, “The Principles and Applications of Cell Therapy Biomanufacturing, Characterization, and Regulatory,”(Figure 1) is now offered multiple times per year to train and retrain industry professionals. CMaT’s Hands-on Training Program (Figure 2) has been offered in 2024 and 2025 at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) to complement the virtual training course. Both courses are made available in collaboration with the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT), a leading scientific society focused on translational aspects of developing cell-based therapeutics. CMaT is based at Georgia Tech.
Location
Atlanta, GeorgiaStart Year
Advanced Manufacturing
Advanced Manufacturing
Lead Institution
Core Partners
Fact Sheet
Impact/benefits
: Education and re-education of the existing biomanufacturing workforce is critical to the success of new advanced cell manufacturing-based therapies. The limited number of skilled workers has developed into a serious barrier for rapid growth and product development for companies and clinical manufacturing centers across the cell and gene therapy sector. Through the virtual and hands-on training programs offered by CMaT, over 380 participants across the globe have been trained.
Explanation/Background
: NSF CMaT began collaborations with ISCT on the development of a cell and gene therapy biomanufacturing professional training program in 2020. The goal of the program is to train a new workforce or retrain the existing workforce entering the field. The nine-week, part-time virtual training program is now well-established and offered multiple times per year. The curriculum consists of topics central to therapeutic cell manufacturing. Key topics in cell and gene therapy manufacturing and development are covered across four modules: (1) Stem Cell and Immune Cell Engineering and Therapies; (2) Quality Assurance and Regulatory Framework and Roundtable; (3) Cell Bioprocessing and Manufacturing Roundtable; and, (4) Cell Product Characterization and Importance of Standards. The modules include twelve asynchronous lectures; each lecture contains a theory component delivered by academic experts and an application component delivered by an industry expert. Through multiple live sessions corresponding to each module, participants can ask questions and clarify any content-related misconceptions.
The Hands-on Training Program launched in 2024 with a week-long Bootcamp for Cell Therapy hosted at Georgia Tech’s Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience and the Marcus Center for Therapeutic Cell Characterization and Manufacturing. The inaugural program included immersive sessions in both Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). The program was re-offered in September 2025 as a five-day course. Participants are trained to initiate, maintain, scale up, and cryopreserve adherent and suspension cells using aseptic techniques and under GMP guidelines. Topics covered include Safety and Best Practices; Working with Cell Culture and Ensuring Purity; Advancing Cell Cultivation Techniques; the GMP Facility; and Mastering Cell Analysis Techniques. Upon completion of the course, participants receive a certificate and 30 Continuing Medical Laboratory Education (CMLE) credits.