Montco CC Gets $573K Grant From National Science Foundation

BLUE BELL, PA — Montgomery County Community College has received a major grant from the National Science Foundation to help develop an advanced technical workforce in a very specific medical field in southeastern Pennsylvania.

The $573,347 grantwill help the college develop coursework for the cell and gene therapy industry, identified as a growing area of need by many local pharmaceutical companies.

“It has been referred to as ‘Cellicon Valley’ because of the growth of these companies in the Philadelphia region,” said biotechnology associate professor Margaret Bryans, who wrote the grant application. “There are about 30 companies developing cell or gene therapies as well as numerous contract manufacturing organizations, contract research organizations and big pharma companies also working on these advanced therapies."

In addition to developing new curriculum to an associate's degree program and certificates in the field, the grant will help the college engage high school students considering a field in this area, as well as facilitate partnerships with other colleges and institutions around the region.

Experts consider gene therapies to be the next generation of medical research. The practice involves modifying a patient's cells or genes to help the body combat a disease on its own.

Montco currently offers two biotechnology programs: a two year Associate in Applied Science degree in Biotechnology, and a one year Certificate in Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing.

Learn more about their programs.