Developing the Skilled Technical Workforce for Regenerative Medicine Biomanufacturing in the Piedmont Triad Region of North Carolina

2019年美国国家科学委员会（National Science Board）的一份报告强调，迫切需要一支技能超群的技术劳动力，以确保美国科学和工程驱动型产业的成功。再生医学是一个旨在修复、再生或替换受损细胞、器官和组织的新兴领域，该项目将通过培养再生医学领域的熟练技术工人，为国家利益服务。再生医学是生物技术和生物工程的跨学科领域，包括纳米技术、人工智能和机器学习、机械工程技术、数据科学和网络生物安全等融合技术。再生医学正在从基础研究和开发阶段，通过临床转化和生物制造迅速发展。通过确定所需技能和技能差距的程度，可以确定再生医学生物制造中熟练技术人员的可用性存在重大差距。为了帮助满足这一需求，维克森林再生医学研究所正在与福赛斯技术社区学院、西蒙·g·阿特金斯高中、地区历史悠久的黑人学院和大学、雇主、专业和行业组织合作。这种伙伴关系旨在将再生医学的新科学技术引入社区大学部门，以确保国家准备所需的再生医学技术人员。该项目打算通过开发再生医学生物制造技术人员的区域教育模式来实现这一目标。具体来说，它将开发和提供再生医学的教师专业发展，从高中水平到社区学院和大学水平（通过铰接的项目）。它还将向社区大学及其合作伙伴传播再生医学领域的基于研究的知识、技能和能力。最后，该项目将为社区大学准备的技术人员和在职员工提供多种职业进入选择和途径，重点是为来自STEM中代表性不足的社区的人们提供服务。该项目建立在最近nsf赞助的先进技术教育努力的基础上，这些努力为该项目提供了科学、技术和教育基础。项目组计划与不同的专家团队合作，开发和生产替代细胞和器官，并扩大用于治疗的细胞。该项目由先进技术教育计划资助，该计划重点关注推动国家经济发展的先进技术领域的教育技术人员。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

A 2019 National Science Board report stressed the critical need for an exceptional skilled technical workforce to ensure the success of the nation's science- and engineering-driven industries. This project will serve the national interest by preparing skilled technical workers in regenerative medicine, an emerging field that aims to repair, regrow, or replace damaged cells, organs, and tissues. Regenerative medicine is a cross-disciplinary field of biotechnology and bioengineering that includes convergent technologies such as nanotechnology, artificial intelligence and machine learning, mechanical engineering technologies, data science, and cyberbiosecurity. Regenerative medicine is rapidly evolving from basic research and development stages, through clinical translation and into biomanufacturing. A significant gap in availability of skilled technicians in regenerative medicine biomanufacturing has been defined by identifying the required skills and the extent of the skills gap. To help fill this need, Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine is partnering with Forsyth Technical Community College, Simon G. Atkins High School, regional Historically Black Colleges and Universities, employers, and professional and trades organizations. This partnership intends to bring the new science and technology of regenerative medicine into the community college sector to ensure the nation prepares the needed regenerative medicine technicians. The project intends to meet this goal by developing a regional model for education of skilled technicians in regenerative medicine biomanufacturing. Specifically, it will develop and deliver faculty professional development in regenerative medicine, from the high school level through community college and university levels (through articulated programs). It will also disseminate research-based knowledge, skills, and abilities for the regenerative medicine field to community colleges and their partners. Finally, the project will develop multiple career entry options and pathways for community college-prepared technicians and incumbent employees, with a focus on serving people from communities that are underrepresented in STEM. The project builds upon recent NSF-sponsored Advanced Technology Education efforts, which have provided the scientific, technical, and educational foundation for this project. The project team plans to work with diverse teams of experts enabling development and production of replacement cells and organs and the expansion of cells for therapy. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education program that focuses on the education technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.