Alamance Community College issued the following announcement on Feb. 16.
Alamance Community College has received a generous donation from Foundation Medicine in Research Triangle Park to support the establishment of a new Histotechnology laboratory in the upcoming Biotechnology Center of Excellence.
The Center of Excellence, currently under construction on the main campus, will feature a mix of laboratory and classroom space for the College’s Biotechnology, Medical Laboratory Technology, Histotechnology and Agricultural-Biotechnology programs.
Since 2010, Foundation Medicine in Research Triangle Park has partnered with researchers, biopharma, and advocacy organizations to validate the use of genomic testing in clinical care, drive awareness among patients and physicians, and ultimately support broader access for patients.
Because of its significant donation to ACC, Foundation Medicine has been granted naming rights for the Histotechnology laboratory support space which, along with the rest of the Center, is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2022.
The $19.4 million, 32,000 square foot Biotechnology Center of Excellence will also include space for start-up and early-stage biopharma companies. The building’s highly visible location along Interstate 85/40 will include indoor/outdoor learning spaces that align with the needs of students, faculty, and industry partners.
“We are honored to have forged this synergetic partnership with Alamance Community College and are eager to provide a state-of-the-art instructional space for future Histotechnologists to hone their skills,” said Sara Beckloff, RTP Site Head and Senior Director, Laboratory Operations. “Additionally, we look forward to building a successful internship program with ACC to not only help students build and perfect the right skills as they prepare to begin their career paths, but also foster advancements in the field of biotechnology.”
“Partnerships with pioneering companies like Foundation Medicine are instrumental in helping us launch new programs to build industry expertise and talent, and drive innovation,” said ACC President Dr. Algie Gatewood. “I look forward to realizing our vision for the Center as a regional hub for innovative, industry-supported and technology-based workforce development and jobs in the rapidly expanding field of biotechnology.”
Alamance Community College is positioned – geographically and strategically – in the middle of North Carolina’s most active biotechnology corridor and is the nation’s #1 small Metropolitan Statistical Area for research, testing and medical labs. The growth rate in bioscience jobs in Alamance County doubled from 1,982 jobs in 2009 to 3,958 in 2014. Those numbers predict an even higher rate of growth over the next decade and beyond.
Original source can be found here.
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