Press Releases


ACPHS Seeking College Students for Immersive Experience In The Biopharmaceutical Industry

October 23, 2023

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NIIMBL eXperience to be held June 2024 in Albany, NY

The Stack Center for Biopharmaceutical Education and Training (CBET) at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (ACPHS) is seeking underrepresented first- and second-year college students for its June 2-8, 2024 immersive program through the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals’ (NIIMBL) eXperience.

This is the second consecutive year CBET has been chosen to host this unique program. In June 2023, CBET hosted its first cohort with students coming from higher education institutions throughout the Northeast.

The NIIMBL eXperience program is an all-expenses paid biopharmaceutical manufacturing program for university and community college students who have completed their first or second year of study. Specifically designed for Black, Latinx, and Indigenous students, the program strives to diversify the school-to-industry pipeline for the biopharmaceutical manufacturing industry.

Hands-on Experience

CBET, in conjunction with Amgen, Biomed Innova, Curia Global, Cytiva, Next Advance Inc., the Neural Stem Cell Institute (NSCI), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Takeda, and the University at Albany’s RNA Institute and College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering will host an array of programming designed to illustrate the broad spectrum of career paths available within the biopharma industry. 

Participants will explore the discovery, biomanufacturing and delivery of therapies including antibody, cell, gene, and mRNA technologies and learn via hands-on activities in biomanufacturing and nanoscience medicines. In addition, students will tour small businesses that highlight innovation and entrepreneurship in the biopharma industry.

As the week progresses, students will visit development and manufacturing sites to witness scale-up and cGMP processes and discuss the complex process of manufacturing lipids for vaccines and therapies as well as state-of-the-art synthetic platforms for antibody drug-conjugates, cell-based therapies for regenerative medicine and medical devices for drug delivery. Participants will compound a drug to make an infusion bag, deliver immunizations and patient counseling.

“This program gives students an extraordinary level of access to biopharmaceutical industry stakeholders and enables them to build lasting connections with actionable steps toward in-demand and rewarding biopharmaceutical careers,” said Dr. Michelle Lewis, executive director, CBET.

Interested students should visit NIIMBL eXperience @ ACPHS to learn more about applicant criteria and requirements. Applications are due by 5:00 PM (ET) on March 1, 2024.

About NIIMBL

NIIMBL is a public-private partnership with the goal of advancing innovation in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. NIIMBL is part of Manufacturing USA®, a network of 14 manufacturing institutes across the country that brings together industry, academia, and the public sector to propel promising research and technology developments, accelerate new products to market, and train tomorrow’s workforce in order to secure America’s future. NIIMBL is funded through a cooperative agreement with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the U.S. Department of Commerce, and leverages additional support from industry, academic institutions, non-profit organizations, and several state governments. The NIIMBL mission is to accelerate biopharmaceutical innovation, support the development of standards that enable more efficient and rapid manufacturing capabilities, and educate and train a world-leading biopharmaceutical manufacturing workforce, fundamentally advancing U.S. competitiveness in this industry.

About CBET

Stack Family Center for Biopharmaceutical Education and Training (CBET) is ACPHS’ response to the rapidly growing biopharmaceutical field and the need for an educated workforce, which has been cited as one of the critical constraints to growth of the biopharmaceutical industry. The Center provides students the knowledge and hands-on experience to bring innovative biopharmaceuticals to patients. CBET is the first training facility in the nation to be created by a pharmacy college. For more information, visit https://cbet.acphs.edu/.

About Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Founded in 1881, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (ACPHS) is a private, independent college dedicated to educating the next generation of leaders to improve the health of society. ACPHS offers 17 undergraduate, graduate and doctorate programs including online Master of Biomedical Sciences and Master of Biotechnology programs. Students have myriad opportunities to extend what they are learning in the classroom at The Stack Family Center for Biopharmaceutical Education and Training (CBET), at student-supported pharmacies in underserved communities, and at The Collaboratory, a public health resource designed to alleviate community health disparities in Albany’s South End neighborhood. ACPHS ranks #1 in New York State for best return on investment by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce and was graded an A+ for value by Niche.

This project was developed with an award from the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) and financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (70NANB21H086).