ISCT & CMaT to roll out additional training programs following successful global launch of 'Workforce Development in Biomanufacturing' course

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 announce 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 percent of students indicating that the training was relevant to their needs, and 91 percent 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 Questions and Answers 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.