Building towards societal inclusion in the biomanufacturing workforce: A developing model in North Carolina

Biomanufacturing is an exciting scientific and industrial venture involving the use of cells to produce important biological products that positively impact human endeavors including healthcare. This industry offers highly regarded and economically lucrative careers that markedly impact their employees’ and their families’ lives. Unfortunately, entry into these careers is not always clear or obtainable. Barriers include issues as simple as misunderstanding required qualifications as well as more substantial barriers such as the lack of access to the hands-on bioprocessing training needed for participation within this high growth industry. Here we report on our ongoing and developing work in the state of North Carolina (NC) to address workforce inequities at their source, that is, developing a coalition of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and one Historically American Indian University (HAIU) with the sole purpose of deploying regional biomanufacturing training hubs within the most economically depressed counties within NC. Our program has been directly vetted by and has secured funding from member companies that comprise the biomanufacturing industry such that our current venture has the promise of providing a powerful and sustained socioeconomic effect. Here we report on the conception, development and deployment of this unique program.