Pharmaceutical leaders AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly and Merck partner with VCU College of Engineering and other Virginia universities to form the Virginia Center for Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
The $12.5 billion capital investment seeks to produce 2,000-2,500 highly-trained professionals
The largest workforce development center for advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing is coming to Virginia with the help of Virginia Commonwealth University’s (VCU) College of Engineering. As one of several university partners, VCU will work with industry leaders AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly and Merck to develop the Virginia Center for Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing. Its goal will be to build a robust talent engine for expanding Virginia’s life science and biopharma ecosystem by educating a skilled workforce for industry.
“This announcement further positions VCU’s College of Engineering and School of Pharmacy to join with many other public and private partners to continue developing a robust pipeline for pharmaceutical research, development and manufacturing,” said Frank Gupton, Ph.D., the Floyd D. Gottwald, Jr. Chair in the Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering. “Virginia is already a known hub for pharmaceutical work. It’s why companies like Eli Lilly and Merck have chosen to invest in the state. We have the resources, programs and people to train the next generation of pharmaceutical engineers, and also provide continuous education to those already in the field. The VCU College of Engineering’s work with biologic and small molecule pharmaceuticals, as well as research into advanced manufacturing techniques, will make an impact in this endeavor.”
Building off a $12.5 billion capital investment in Virginia’s life sciences sector, this new partnership between the private and public industry is expected to create many opportunities for students at the College of Engineering. The Virginia Center for Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing’s goal is to produce 2000-2500 highly-trained professionals each year.
Through collaboration with Virginia’s educational institutions and innovation ecosystem partners, students and trainees will be able to progress from micro-credentials to certifications and degrees via hands-on classroom, lab and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) simulated training. Apprenticeships, internships and employer projects will be activated and expanded from existing and new Virginia programs so students can enter at a technician level and advance through associate, bachelor’s, master’s or Ph.D. programs.
The Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering provides undergraduate and graduate students with the opportunity to perform real-world research as soon as they enroll. From delving into the intricacies of pharmaceutical manufacturing to exploring the effects of climate change through heat studies, our students pursue a diverse range of cutting-edge research topics. Browse videos and recent news from the Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering to discover how the College of Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University prepares the next generation of scientists and engineers for the challenges of the future.
Categories Chemical & Life Science Engineering