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“Celgene Week” highlights cell therapies and jobs

Published Nov. 1, 2018

Greg Russotti, Ph.D., vice president for Cell Therapy Technical Development at Celgene Corp., discussed the challenges of commercializing cell therapies in a presentation at BTEC on Oct. 26, 2018.
Greg Russotti, Ph.D., vice president for Cell Therapy Technical Development at Celgene Corp., discussed the challenges of commercializing cell therapies in a presentation at BTEC on Oct. 26, 2018.

Several representatives from Celgene Corp. gave NC State students a crash course on cell therapies and the industry during what became known as “Celgene Week” at the Golden LEAF Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center (BTEC). On Wednesday, Oct. 24, BEC 220 students learned about technology transfer of cell therapies from alumnus Adam Leedy, a senior process engineer at Celgene Corp. On Thursday evening, members of the NC State student chapter of the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineers (ISPE) dined on pizza and heard about Celgene and careers in cell therapy. As part of BTEC’s Friday morning seminar series, Celgene’s vice president of Cell Therapy Technical Development, Greg Russotti, Ph.D., shared the challenges of commercializing cell therapies with graduate students and staff. Overall, the week helped students find out more about the cell therapy industry and provided Celgene with better access to university students with the right biomanufacturing skills.

Adam Leedy, senior process engineer at Celgene Corp., presented on the technology transfer of cell therapies at BTEC on Oct. 24, 2018.
Adam Leedy, senior process engineer at Celgene Corp., presented on the technology transfer of cell therapies at BTEC on Oct. 24, 2018.

Celgene Corp., with headquarters in Summit, N.J., is a global integrated biopharmaceutical company primarily engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative therapies designed to treat cancer and immune-inflammatory related diseases in patients with limited treatment options. There are hundreds of clinical trials at major medical centers evaluating compounds from Celgene. The company recently purchased Juno Therapeutics, which operates the Juno Manufacturing Plant (JuMP) in Seattle, Wash. It develops autologous cellular biologics that employ T-cells engineered using Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) and T Cell Receptor (TCR) technologies. These products are critical to immunotherapies that harness the power of the immune system to recognize tumors and potentially eradicate cancer cells.

BTEC is a unique, cross-disciplinary instructional center on North Carolina State University’s Centennial Campus.  It provides educational and training opportunities to develop skilled professionals for the biomanufacturing industry and create the best-trained, most industry-focused workforce possible. BTEC also provides bioprocess and analytical services, leveraging its facilities, equipment, and the expertise of its faculty and staff.