NC State, Strasbourg Institutes to Advance Biomanufacturing

Lab at BTEC (North Carolina State University)

North Carolina State University in Durham and University of Strasbourg in France, along with the Alsace BioValley cluster in Europe, are forming Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center (BTEC) International, to provide educational and regulatory advisory services in the U.S. and Europe. BTEC International will initially combine the resources of NC State’s Golden LEAF Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center, and Strasbourg’s European Aseptic and Sterile Environment Training Center.

The term biomanufacturing refers to the production of drugs based on biotechnology, such as vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and proteins for medicinal use. Biomanufacturing technologies can also be applied to biofuels, agriculture, and other industries. NC State says the biopharmaceutical industry in the U.S. alone exceeds $917 billion annually, which translates into 674,000 direct jobs and 3.4 million indirect or induced jobs.

BTEC International is expected to become a hub of regulatory expertise applicable to both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency. The institute will provide biomanufacturing training and regulatory-affairs courses at Golden LEAF BTEC in Raleigh, N.C., and at EASE in Strasbourg.

The initiative is also expected to work with researchers, corporations, governments, and organizations to develop technologies to advance the biomanufacturing industry. BTEC International plans as well to expand its membership and become a collaborative network of training centers to increase the international content of curricula, and organize short courses and seminars.

Read more:

• White House Issues Outline for Bioscience-Based Economy
• FDA Grant Funds Georgetown University Regulatory Center

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