Blinn College partners with FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies on a $289,395 safety and skills training grant
Texas Workforce Commission grant will provide training for 140 FUJIFILM employees
February 15, 2018
From left: Dr. Gerry Farrell, Chief Operating Officer for Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies Texas; Ruth R. Hughs, Texas Workforce Commissioner Representing Employers; and Dr. Mary Hensley, Chancellor for Blinn College, celebrate a $289,395 grant to provide safety and skills training for 140 FUJIFILM employees.
The Texas Workforce Commission presented Blinn College and FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies (FUJIFILM) a $289,395 grant today to provide safety and skills training for 140 FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies employees.
Texas Workforce Commissioner Representing Employers Ruth R. Hughs made the announcement at the FUJIFILM Diosynth Laboratories facility in College Station alongside Blinn College Chancellor Dr. Mary Hensley, Blinn College Dean of Technical and Community Programs Jay Anderson, and Dr. Gerry Farrell, Chief Operating Officer for FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies.
The grant provides training for 106 new jobs and 34 upgraded positions in cell culture bioreactors and upstream processes; aseptic/analytical techniques; powered industrial truck operation; protein chemistry and chromatography; recovery and downstream operations; therapeutics manufacturing procedures; business computer operation; CPR, AED, first aid, and bloodborne pathogens; HAZWOPER; lockout/tagout; manufacturing safety; the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration 10-Hour General Industry Certification; and supervisor/manager skills.
FUJIFILM has over 25 years of experience in the development and manufacturing of recombinant proteins, vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, among other large molecules, viral products and medical countermeasures expressed in a wide array of microbial, mammalian, and host/virus systems. The company offers a comprehensive list of services from strain and cell line development using its proprietary pAVEway™ microbial and Apollo™ mammalian expression systems to process development, analytical development, clinical and cGMP compliant commercial manufacturing. FUJIFILM’s mission is to help customers bring their therapeutic candidates to the clinic and, ultimately, to commercialization.
FUJIFILM acquired Kalon Biotherapeutics LLC in 2014, marking an important new chapter in the emergence of the Texas biosciences industry as a center for world-class development and manufacturing of life-saving biopharmaceuticals and biotechnology while providing FUJIFILM with expanded capacity for its growing vaccine capabilities. FUJIFILM is a key subcontractor to one of the three Centers for Innovation in Advanced Development and Manufacturing (CIADM) awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to develop and manufacture medical countermeasures to protect public health in emergencies, including incidents of bioterrorism or an outbreak of pandemic influenza.
“The partnership with Blinn College is extremely important to FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies. It gives us access to world-class, customized training for our employees,” said Gerry Farrell, COO of FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies Texas. “And it is all done within the local College Station-City of Bryan community.”
The Skills Development Fund provides local customized training opportunities for Texas businesses and workers to increase skill levels and wages of the Texas workforce. Blinn has secured $2.7 million in Skills Development Fund grants since August 2014, helping local employers such as Axis Pipe & Tube, Blue Bell, Igloo, Kaemark, Kent Moore Cabinets, NOV Grant Prideco, Stanpac, and Tempur Sealy develop and implement employee safety and skills training programs.
“Skills Development Fund grants deliver customized training solutions that help Texas businesses and their employees thrive in today’s competitive business environment,” Anderson said. “This investment from the Texas Workforce Commission builds the skills of local employees, ensuring that these talented individuals remain at the forefront of their industry.”
Businesses, consortiums and trade unions with more than 100 employees are encouraged to contact the College at 979-209-7205 to explore partnering with Blinn for Skills Development Fund training opportunities. Businesses with fewer than 100 employees may be eligible for Skills for Small Business grants, and also are encouraged to contact Blinn for more information.
Blinn strengthens the economy by helping job-seekers obtain the skills and credentials they need to succeed in the workplace, and by partnering with local businesses to offer training opportunities for incumbent and new employees. For more information on Blinn’s technical and community education programs, including class schedules and registration information, visit www.blinn.edu/workforce.
