Golden LEAF Pharmaceutical Development and Manufacturing Center of Excellence Grant uri icon

abstract

  • The aim of the ECU/Golden LEAF Pharmaceutical Development and Manufacturing Center of Excellence (PDM CoE) is to be the premier, laboratory-based experiential education and development center in the world for preparing pharmaceutics professionals to fuel diversification, innovation and operational excellence within the pharmaceutical industry. There are four major goals and outcomes of the PDM CoE: (1) Educate workers and students for highly-regulated pharmaceutical development and manufacturing environments; (2) Enable workers to be immediately productive in complex jobs requiring multi-disciplinary skills, knowledge and abilities, (3) Reduce initial time to productivity for new workers and associated costs of mistakes, and (4) Equip workers and students with the needed creative skills, technical knowledge, and innovation capabilities to solve complex real-world challenges within the pharmaceutical industry. Project Implementation: Expand the throughput of the existing GMP-training facility - Current space, instructional capacity, and equipment limits ECU?s GMP chemistry course throughput under the current model to approximately 10 students per year. This educational training can be increased by approximately 300%-500% with minor yet intentionally focused expansion (approximately 500 sq ft) of the existing laboratory space as well as refinement of scheduling and instructional practices. Add new personnel and capabilities to the existing GMP-training facility - Bringing more industrial expertise to the Department of Chemistry faculty by means of a new Pharmaceutical Skills Laboratory Director would add much needed in-house instructional capacity and expertise. Develop and deliver short courses for current and future employees on advanced scientific topics - The overwhelming majority of scientists employed in the region have bachelors or master?s degrees in Chemistry or related fields. These scientists? extensive job experience has exposed them to new protocols and tools about which they are well-positioned to learn more from the theory perspective. They will benefit from continuing education on topics such as advancements in chromatography, particle size analysis, and related fields. Immediate returns on investments will accrue through hiring of innovative, qualified candidates into current openings at Patheon. Near term, establishing this talent pipeline will directly contribute to the recruitment of a potential Patheon expansion. Longer term, economic benefits will accrue through expansion of regional CDMO industrial activities and related employment opportunities throughout rural, eastern North Carolina. Specifically, Patheon projects 488 new jobs will be created in Pitt County. In addition to these opportunities, interviews with HR directors among regional pharmaceutical firms project an additional 1,500-2,000 employees will be needed over the next 5 years and potentially 4,000 over the next 10 years. Number and Quality of Jobs Created: It is projected that 488 new full-time equivalent jobs will be created in Pitt County with an average annual median income of $54,131 which is 37% above Pitt County?s annual median income of $39,343 and 19.7% above North Carolina?s annual median income of $45,195. Near term, establishing this talent pipeline will directly contribute to the current confidential recruitment effort of another pharmaceutical expansion. The current expansion under recruitment is expected to create 110 jobs, with an average annual salary of $65K, and a total investment of $50M. In addition to this projected job creation, interviews with other HR directors among regional cluster firms predict an additional 1,500-2,000 employees needed over the next 5 years, and potentially 4,000 within 10 years. Economic Impact: The direct economic impact of these 488 FTEs will be $26,416,032, and

date/time interval

  • March 2015 - August 2017