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FCC Receives $350,000 Grant to Provide Training in Growing Biotechnology Field
10/05/2022
Frederick Community College has been awarded a $350,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) that will bring affordable training in a cutting-edge cell and gene therapy field to Frederick County.
 
The grant will fund a new initiative to address the growing need for two types of technicians:
  • Skilled cell therapy technicians, who handle the process of modifying or replacing diseased cells in the body
  • Flow cytometry technicians, who work to detect and analyze the quality of the cell therapy product
The focus on flow cytometry will make FCC one of the first community colleges in the country to offer education in this innovative technique. Flow cytometry is used as an analytical tool for the cell therapy industry to ensure the quality and purity of the cell therapy product.
 
“Dozens of clinical stage cell therapy companies have recently been established in our region, and many others have announced plans to join this rapidly growing biotechnology hub,” said Dr. Savita Prabhakar, FCC Program Manager and Assistant Professor of Biotechnology. “The educational programs currently available locally cannot meet the increasing demand for technicians with cell therapy skills, and none of them prepare technicians who are fully qualified to work in flow cytometry. This grant will help FCC provide that critical training and fill that demand locally.”
 
FCC will use the grant funding to:
  • Develop a new cell therapy and flow cytometry course that will be integrated into the FCC Biotechnology Associate of Applied Science degree, certificate, letter of recognition, and Registered Apprenticeship options
  • Expand and improve recruiting activities in collaboration with industry, educational, workforce services, and economic development partners to increase enrollment of traditional and non-traditional students
The training is expected to be available in Spring 2023.
 
The grant is part of the NSF Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program, which is intended for two-year higher education institutions and focuses on the education of technicians in high-technology fields that drive the national economy. The grant proposal process was led by Dr. Savita Prabhakar along with Dr. Valerie Cousins, Pamela Dubitsky, and Dr. Kathi Groover. Mentor-Connect mentors Osa Brand and Elaine Kohrman also assisted.
 
For more information on this grant, contact Dr. Savita Prabhakar, FCC Program Manager and Assistant Professor of Biotechnology, at [email protected].
 

 

 

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