Kapíolani Community College

Credential(s)

Biotechnology

Program Website(s)

Kapíolani Community College Biotechnician Program

Kapíolani Biotechnology Research

InnovATEBIO Member(s)

John Berestecky

Students Employed by

Black Ivory Biotech, John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii, Diagnostic Laboratory Services, Inc., Clinical Labs of Hawaii

Program Description

Kapíolani Community College offers two certificates in biotechnology: a Certificate of Acheivement and a Certificate of Competence.

The Certificate of Achievement in Biotechnology prepares students for entry-level employment in the biotechnology industry and research labs. Students learn basic laboratory skills, equipment operation and maintenance, quality control, safety, and good manufacturing practices (GMPs).

The Certificate of Competence in Biotechnology prepares students for entry level work in laboratories specializing in microbiology, molecular biology, cell biology and immunology. The curriculum offers a strong theoretical foundation in biotechnology and extensive opportunities for honing the laboratory skills needed to work in biotech laboratories. This certificate is particularly suited as a supplemental credential for students in the Medical Laboratory Technician program.

The Monoclonal Antibody Service Facility and Training Center (MASFTC) benefits the student and research communities by:
•   Providing opportunities for students to apply concepts and methods gained in the campus Tissue Culture and Immunology and Protein Chemistry courses;
•   Further advancing the students’ course training, skills, and experience;
•   Contributing to other undergraduate student research projects in molecular and cellular biology;
•   Providing students with contemporary lab job skills needed in various research areas;
•   Supporting topical research platforms;
•   Producing requisite biological tools for research, diagnostic, and prognostic settings;
•   Generating research data for local and national scientific presentations;
•   Collaborating with off-campus researchers;
Antibodies are essential tools in the research and medical communities, yet an astounding proportion of these remain inconsistent and uncharacterized. Therefore, the MASFTC is also reconfiguring antibody production in order to create customized recombinant antibodies that may be efficiently produced and characterized, and more easily modified and improved upon. Given that the demand for precise monoclonal antibodies by biopharmaceutical and therapeutic companies is increasing, the MASFTC allows the researchers and students of Hawai‘i to keep pace with current medical trends.

CSO / Biotech Incubator

CSO / Incubator Description

The Kapi‘olani Community College Monoclonal Antibody Service Facility and Training Center (MASFTC) utilizes campus students in the production of reagent monoclonal antibodies. The generated antibodies are then used for ongoing investigations, or provided to research clients on a contractual basis.

Monoclonal Antibody Service Facility and Training Center