Content

2020 Annual Report

Describing achievements and activities covering fiscal year July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020

Despite the onset of COVID-19 in spring 2020, undergraduate and graduate enrollment in BTEC classes remained strong with an all-time high of 893 students throughout the academic year. And while BTEC'S professional development program was forced to put in-person courses on hold beginning in February, enrollment in its online Fundamentals of Biomanufacturing course increased significantly. BTEC's contract services program, which supports industry partners, was also forced to halt operations temporarily due to the pandemic, but work resumed on projects as NC State's laboratories began to reopen in June.

Collaborative research and workforce development projects amplify BTEC’s impact

BTEC continued its focus on research and workforce development through novel collaborative programs with other universities, industry partners, and institutes.

AIM-Bio

The five-year Accelerated Innovation in Manufacturing Biologics (AIM-Bio) project, a groundbreaking international collaborative research and workforce training program focused on biomanufacturing science and technology, officially began in January 2020. The project is supported by a $27 million grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, $18 million of which is allocated to NC State. As part of the grant activities, NC State, BTEC, and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) are conducting nine new research projects and creating eight new professional development courses important to the future of biopharmaceutical manufacturing. In addition, three of BTEC's existing professional development courses will be transferred to DTU. The project also involves an international collaboration and exchange program for faculty and postdocs, staff, and graduate students at the two universities. Faculty, staff and students from both NC State and the Technical University of Denmark will collaborate on all project activities. To support the program, BTEC has hired several new scientific and support staff members.

NIIMBL

A public-private partnership with the goal of advancing innovation in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing of Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) is one of 14 Manufacturing USA institutes, a national network of linked manufacturing institutes that are designed to accelerate U.S. advanced manufacturing. As part of BTEC’s work with NIIMBL, the center led or was active in nine NIIMBL-funded projects during the year. BTEC led projects in the areas of gene therapy vector production, viral vector characterization, and single-use technologies. These topics are all critically important to modern biomanufacturing, and the work will enable BTEC to expand its course offerings and to work even more closely with the industry on solving process and analytical challenges.

Academic programs

Undergraduate and graduate enrollment remains strong

For the 2019–2020 academic year, enrollment (i.e., seats filled) in both BTEC undergraduate and graduate courses totaled a recording breaking 893, up 8.8% from 2017–2018, which saw enrollment of 821. By May 2020, 50 undergraduates had completed the BTEC minor during the year, and nine students had completed an undergraduate certificate in biomanufacturing.

The master's program at BTEC, known as BIOM, graduated eight students in May and had 26 enrolled during the 2019–2020 academic year. The majority of students in the program—approximately 73% of those enrolled in 2019–2020—work full time in the biomanufacturing industry and attend classes part time. In addition, 17 individuals were enrolled in BTEC’s graduate certificate program during the year, eight pursuing the Upstream Biomanufacturing certificate and nine working toward the Downstream Biomanufacturing certificate. By May, seven of these 17 had completed the certificate program, five in the upstream concentration and two in the downstream.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, BTEC was unable to hold a graduation ceremony for the class of 2020. However, a congratulatory letter from BTEC leadership and a video from the faculty and staff was sent to each graduate.

Robust employment rates continue

Of the eight master’s students who graduated in 2019–2020, seven were employed full time while enrolled in the program, and the remaining individual secured a position prior to graduation. BTEC’s graduate program continues to boast a 98% placement rate within six months of graduation. BTEC undergraduate programs have a placement rate of over 95% (employment or acceptance into a graduate program) within six months of graduation.

Scholarships and student activities round out the academic programs

In 2019–2020, 18 undergraduates received BTEC scholarships, which are sponsored by industry firms Avexis, Celgene (Bristol-Myers Squibb), EMD Millipore, Fujifilm Diosynth, KBI Biopharma, Patheon Pharmaceutical Services, Saint Gobain, Sartorius- Stedim, and Steris. BTEC staff serve as faculty advisors for the NC State student chapter of the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE), which provides undergraduate and graduate students with career development opportunities. In addition, BTEC hosted seminars by industry professionals and firms during the year to help develop career-ready graduates.

Professional development

Professional development program impacted by covid-19 pandemic

From July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020, BTEC offered 13 open enrollment professional development course offerings and 12 custom course offerings for individual companies. While forecasting another all-time high enrollment, the coronavirus pandemic necessitated that BTEC postpone all professional development offerings from mid-March through end of the fiscal year. Enrollment in BTEC’s online Fundamentals of Biomanufacturing course saw steady enrollment through the year and a marked increase beginning in March.

Contract services

Contract services support industry, academia

BTEC’s Bioprocess Services and Analytical Services units served industry and academic partners from within and outside North Carolina by carrying out 15 projects during the year. They included amino acid analysis on spent media; cleaning studies utilizing ozone; testing of prototype disposable storage bags, HPLC analysis for abamectin; HPLC analysis for glutamine; HPLC analysis for trigonelline and nicotinic acid; production of culture broth for component testing; scale up of bacteria for biocementation; scale up of Mycobacterium phlei fermentation; scale up fermentation using genetically modified Pichia pastoris for the biochemical modification of cannabidiol (CBD); screening of novel chromatography media; and structural integrity testing for clean room materials.