The collaboration seeks to address the critical skilled labor shortage in the cell and gene therapy industry.
Vancouver, Canada, August 30, 2022 - The International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT), the global society of clinicians, researchers, regulators, technologists, and industry partners dedicated to the translation of cell and gene therapy (CGT) and The National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Research Center for Cell Manufacturing Technologies (CMaT) led by the Georgia Institute of Technology, today announces its plan to launch additional training courses to address critical labor shortages in the sector. This announcement follows the successful global launch of the ISCT-CMaT Workforce Development in Biomanufacturing online program earlier this year.
As part of ISCT’s continued commitment to alleviate the current skills gap within the advanced therapies sector, ISCT has launched additional Workforce Development courses from October 10 – December 9, 2022, and throughout 2023. Course details are now available on the ISCT website.
ISCT’s partnership with CMaT will also see the introduction of an innovative hands-on on-site course in May 2023. This program will provide practical learning and development for participants at a CGT center of excellence. Priority registration will be given to those who have taken the ISCT-CMaT Workforce Development in Biomanufacturing online course.
The initial Workforce Development program, which launched in April 2022, proved to be a valuable asset for those entering the CGT biomanufacturing space and received exceptional feedback with over 96% of students indicating that the training was relevant to their needs, and 91% said they would recommend the course to a colleague.
The program was developed and delivered by field experts from academic, regulatory, clinical and commercial domains, who provided interactive LIVE expert panel Q&A sessions. The lectures covered both theory and industry application perspectives across four modules; Stem Cell and Immune Cell Engineering and Therapies, Quality Assurance and Regulatory Framework, Cell Bioprocessing and Manufacturing, and Cell Product Characterization and Importance of Standards.
"This biomanufacturing course, delivered in collaboration with CMaT, is a first step to address the broader needs of CGT training for both industry and academia. The overwhelmingly positive feedback we have received from the participants who took part in the course shows us that we are on the right track", said Queenie Jang, CEO, ISCT.
"ISCT will continue to work with CMaT to further develop specialized hands-on manufacturing programs to augment this initial offering. ISCT's purpose to drive clinical translation of cell and gene therapies worldwide is, in part, realised through the identification of key issues facing the CGT industry as well as leading the charge in formulating solutions".
"CMaT is tremendously excited to collaborate with ISCT and offer this critically needed course for the Cell Therapy Industry. We were humbled to see the community's strong support and enthusiasm for this first offering", said Krish Roy at CMaT.
"We want to thank our instructors from both academia and industry – all the lectures and the live discussion sessions were highly rated. We are looking forward to re-offering this course this fall and next spring and developing additional hands-on and virtual modules to address the needs of the cell manufacturing workforce."
For more information on how to register for the upcoming Workforce Development in Biomanufacturing program visit the ISCT website.
About the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy
Established in 1992, the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT) is a global society of clinicians, regulators, researchers, technologists, and industry partners with a shared vision to translate cell and gene therapy into safe and effective therapies to improve patients' lives worldwide.
ISCT is the global leader focused on pre-clinical and translational aspects of developing cell and gene-based therapeutics, thereby advancing scientific research into innovative treatments for patients. ISCT offers a unique collaborative environment that addresses three key areas of translation: Academia, Regulatory, and Commercialization. Through strong relationships with global regulatory agencies, academic institutions, and industry partners, ISCT drives the advancement of research into a standard of care.
Comprised of over 2,700 cell and gene therapy experts across five geographic regions and representation from over 60 countries, ISCT members are part of a global community of peers, thought leaders, and organizations invested in cell and gene therapy translation. For more information about the society, key initiatives, and upcoming meetings, please visit: https://isctglobal.org, @ISCTglobal.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Research Center for Cell Manufacturing Technologies (CMaT) is a nine academic institution centre with four international partners. CMaT's mission is to transform the manufacturing of cell-based therapeutics into a large-scale, lower-cost, reproducible, and high-quality engineering process. The centre's vision is to bring affordable, curative therapies against incurable chronic diseases to everyone by focusing on the development of next-generation cell manufacturing technologies and data analytics, as well as training the future workforce in cell manufacturing. Workforce development is a critical component of CMaT's mission, and the centre actively develops and implements programs at the high school, two-year colleges, four-year undergraduate and graduate levels to help prepare the cell manufacturing workforce of the future. www.cellmanufacturingusa.org
Michelle Boxall / Matthew Wilson