Utah State University Biotech Center Conducts Training in Singapore

Utah State University’s Center for Integrated BioSystems (CIB) recently completed its second annual biotechnology training program at Singapore’s Ngee Ann Polytechnic college. Twenty-six participants, consisting of faculty members and industry specialists, took part in the program, held Nov. 2-5, that included hands-on training in mammalian and insect cell culture, biopharmaceutical production and purification techniques.

“We had a great experience at our second successful training course in Singapore,” said Kamal Rashid, research professor and CIB associate director, who coordinated the training program.

Rashid said Singapore is an ideal site for biotechnology training because of the government’s focus on high technology. “The country is a small island with virtually no natural resources, so the government is cultivating Singapore’s intellectual assets.”

At the training, Rashid presented lectures and laboratory sessions on cell culture technology and quality control cell lines for production of biological materials. Other participating Utah State researchers included Ken White, animal, dairy and veterinary science professor, who presented a lecture on nuclear transfer techniques and stem cell research, and CIB bioprocess specialist Mark Signs, who lectured on protein purification and downstream processing.

Joining the Utah State presenters was Julia Cino of New Brunswick Scientific Company, who conducted a laboratory presentation of scale-up animal cell culture, along with bioreactor design and set-up.

Rashid hopes to conduct similar training programs in other countries. “We’ve introduced Utah State University to many new audiences and participants in the Singapore program from India and Taiwan are requesting similar programs in their own countries,” he said.

In addition to an outreach tool, Rashid sees the training program as a valuable recruitment tool. “While sharing Utah State’s expertise in biotechnology abroad, we hope to attract future students to Logan.”

The Singapore biotechnology training program, including participants’ training fees, was funded by New Brunswick Scientific Company. Sponsors Hyclone and Corning provided supplies and media for the training.