(204e) Collaborative Ventures: Developing a Unique Course in Viral Vector Manufacturing at BTEC

The Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center (BTEC) at North Carolina State University has a long history of partnering with and serving the biopharmaceutical industry. These partnerships have taken a variety of forms, including developing and delivering short courses for professionals on a range of topics related to biopharmaceutical manufacturing and collaborating on numerous projects through our bioprocess and analytical services program. As biopharmaceutical modalities and bioprocessing/analytical technologies advance, partnering with industry becomes even more critical to ensuring that BTEC remains current, particularly in its education and training programs.

In early 2018, as gene therapy products began to be approved by the FDA, it was apparent that viral vector production needed to make a transition from the lab bench to commercial manufacturing, and that the industry needed educational opportunities to enable the transition. In response, BTEC successfully developed a hands-on short course in viral vector manufacturing by partnering, both formally and informally, with numerous organizations, including the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) - a public-private partnership whose mission is to accelerate biopharmaceutical innovation. The course, which covers both upstream and downstream processing of viral vectors as well as analytical methods, has been successful and attended by over 100 professionals since the first offering in March 2019. This presentation will discuss course design, feedback from participants, and how partnerships with organizations external to BTEC were a key to success.