Since 2000 The Wistar Institute has operated the Biomedical Technician Training (BTT) Program to prepare students from the Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) for laboratory positions. Our NSF ATE Project, Expansion, Curriculum Evolution, and Enhancement during BioTechnician Training (ExCEEd BTT) has three primary goals: 1) include more students from new community college partners in the region, 2) develop a novel curriculum based on Wistar research that effectively engages underrepresented students, and 3) redesign the program as a one-summer pre-apprenticeship with internships in academic and industry labs. Speaker : Kristy Shuda McGuire, M.S., Ph.D., Dean of Biomedical Studies, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA Read more
Antibodies are arguably the most important class of proteins in biotechnology. These proteins are used in biological research, clinical diagnostic tests, therapeutic drugs, and laboratory services. Over 333 US employers in over 500 locations carry out research and / or manufacture products based on antibodies including rapid tests for COVID-19. The expanding use of antibodies as therapeutic drugs is spurring companies to hunt for antibodies with new specificities. At the same time, the challenges with antibody manufacturing and stability are encouraging companies to engineer these proteins to lower production costs. We are responding to the need for creating new antibodies ... Read more
