Publication Spotlight: New Industry-Informed Flow Cytometry Course at Frederick Community College
The article (1) discusses the development of Frederick Community College's cell therapy and flow cytometry course and the role it plays in the Biohealth Capital Region, an area that encompasses Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. The authors state that the global cell therapy market is estimated to grow to $23 billion by 2030 with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expecting to approve 30-60 cell and gene therapy products. With this increase, the demand for technicians with flow cytometry skills will be strong. Flow cytometry is analytical technique where single cells flow past a detection system that measures the cell size, granularity, and protein composition. If the cells are stained with antibodies, flow cytometry can detect and count specific molecules on surface of each cell.
FCC used the Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT) model and enlisted local, national, and global employers in the area as well as academic biotechnology program representatives to build the course outline and curriculum. The course was initially offered Spring 2023 with ten students completing it. Student feedback in the initial offering as well as a follow-on non-credit summer session was very positive -- two students were hired for jobs that involved cell culture, and one was promoted. Two organizations have contacted the program and requested the opportunity to review resumes of students for possible interviews. FCC is sharing what they have developed through the Northeast Biomanufacturing Center & Collaborative (NBC2, Biomanufacturing.org) to aid in the adoption of flow cytometry curriculum in biotech programs nationwide.
The article describes two examples of using flow cytometry as an analytical tool. In one case, flow cytometry is used to measure transduction efficiency of Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) GFP viral particles. AAV is used in for gene therapy to deliver the modified genes. The other example describes the use of flow cytometry with cell therapy. In this example, flow cytometry is used for quality control with a cell therapy product by measuring the presence and activation of T cell markers.
Check out the paper to learn about the methods and the course.
Reference:
1. Groover, K., Cousins, V., Pelkey, B., & Prabhakar, S. (2024). Flow Cytometry - A Specialized Analytical Skill for the Cell and Gene Therapy Industry. Journal of Advanced Technological Education, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10914560
Become a Reviewer for J ATE
Share your expertise and help your colleagues get published! The Journal of Advanced Technological Education (J ATE) is looking for peer-reviewers to read and review one to four manuscripts a year. Reviewing allows you to give back to your community while at the same time gaining valuable experience and insight into the process of publication. You can also proudly list it on your resume, letting potential employers know that you have a keen eye for detail in the written word.
First time being a reviewer? Don’t worry! The J ATE team will hold a virtual training session this fall for potential new reviewers. If you are interested in learning more and receiving updates when the dates are finalized, please email: janet@micronanoeducation.org
You can be a J ATE Reviewer if you are a Community College Faculty member or Staff, NSF ATE Center leader or Project Staff, an ATE External Evaluator, or an expert in technician education at community or technical colleges. J ATE is looking for reviewers with expertise in biotechnology and technician education.