Virtual and Hands-On Training in Cell Therapy Biomanufacturing Now Available Through NSF CMaT ERC
Outcome/Accomplishment
The Cell Manufacturing Technologies (CMaT) Engineering Research Center (ERC) — a U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded ERC based at Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia — is developing virtual and hands-on training programs to train or retrain members of the existing biomanufacturing workforce and those transitioning from related fields. Through a global partnership with the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCT), a leading scientific society focused on translational aspects of developing cell-based therapeutics, NSF CMaT educators successfully introduced a virtual training course entitled “The Principles and Applications of Cell Therapy Biomanufacturing, Characterization, and Regulatory Framework.” In just one year, the virtual training program became well-established, with three distinct cohort launches.
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. NSF CMaT’s new virtual training course counters this barrier and meets the growing demand. In its first year of offering, a total of 230 participants across the globe have already 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. To assess demand for training in the current cell therapy and manufacturing industry sector, the team conducted a survey with the leading cell therapy industries. More than 95 percent of respondents indicated that they would support external training opportunities for their new employees. In response, the NSF CMaT-ISCT joint-training program was offered for the first time during the Summer of 2022. During the inaugural offering, the program was hosted via Georgia Tech’s Professional Education (GTPE) website; however, in subsequent offerings it was moved to the ISCT training program’s website.
The training program 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 expert(s) and an application component delivered by an industry expert. Through multiple live sessions corresponding to each module, participants have the opportunity to ask questions and clarify any content-related misconceptions.
A complementary hands-on training program is also in development. Progress to date includes content development, identification of lab space, and progress on overall logistics.
The hands-on training program launched with a Spring 2024 offering.
Location
Atlanta, Georgiawebsite
Start Year
Advanced Manufacturing
Advanced Manufacturing
Lead Institution
Core Partners
Fact Sheet
Outcome/Accomplishment
The Cell Manufacturing Technologies (CMaT) Engineering Research Center (ERC) — a U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded ERC based at Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia — is developing virtual and hands-on training programs to train or retrain members of the existing biomanufacturing workforce and those transitioning from related fields. Through a global partnership with the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCT), a leading scientific society focused on translational aspects of developing cell-based therapeutics, NSF CMaT educators successfully introduced a virtual training course entitled “The Principles and Applications of Cell Therapy Biomanufacturing, Characterization, and Regulatory Framework.” In just one year, the virtual training program became well-established, with three distinct cohort launches.
Location
Atlanta, Georgiawebsite
Start 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. NSF CMaT’s new virtual training course counters this barrier and meets the growing demand. In its first year of offering, a total of 230 participants across the globe have already 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. To assess demand for training in the current cell therapy and manufacturing industry sector, the team conducted a survey with the leading cell therapy industries. More than 95 percent of respondents indicated that they would support external training opportunities for their new employees. In response, the NSF CMaT-ISCT joint-training program was offered for the first time during the Summer of 2022. During the inaugural offering, the program was hosted via Georgia Tech’s Professional Education (GTPE) website; however, in subsequent offerings it was moved to the ISCT training program’s website.
The training program 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 expert(s) and an application component delivered by an industry expert. Through multiple live sessions corresponding to each module, participants have the opportunity to ask questions and clarify any content-related misconceptions.
A complementary hands-on training program is also in development. Progress to date includes content development, identification of lab space, and progress on overall logistics.
The hands-on training program launched with a Spring 2024 offering.