Newsletter of the Central Coast Biotechnology Center

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WORKSHOPS AND
UPCOMING EVENTS

     Friday, November 5th, 1999, at College of the Canyons, workshops and networking for high school and community college instructors interested in biotechnology in the Santa Clarita area.

     The morning will begin with a continental breakfast and social time, then a workshop by Novex, Inc. (possibly another company to be confirmed as of this writing), discussion on partnering with industry and education, then a luncheon provided by the CCBC. The afternoon is a workshop by Qiagen, Inc., and a tour of the company, which is located quite close to College of the Canyons.

     Since 1992, QIAGEN has offered a range of DNA and RNA purification kits, and technologies for recombinant protein expression, purification, detection, and assay and similar nucleic acid manipulation. Novex, Inc. is the world's leading supplier of pre-cast electrophoresis gels and products for life sciences.

     As of this writing, the final details for the workshop are yet to be arranged. Please feel free to contact either Mary Pat Huxley or Barbara Hall at the CCBC to register, or Elizabeth Russo at College of the Canyons, (661) 259 7800 ext. 3549, or by email, Russo_e@mail.coc.cc.ca.us. You will be sent the finalized agenda.

CLUES WORKSHOPS

     California Lutheran University Enriched Science Program (CLUES) announces FREE workshops for science instructors interested in using biotechnology in their high school and community college programs. Topics include: Polymerase Chain Reaction, High Performance Liquid Chromatography, Plasmid Insertion and Bacterial Selection, size Exclusion chromatography, and DNA finger printing.

Two-day workshop Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo Friday, October 15 and Saturday October 16, sponsored by CCBC and CLU. Contact Jim Wolf 805 493-3395 or Mary Pat Huxley at 805 648-8977 or mphuxley@ventura.cc.ca.us for reservations.

Please plan to attend both days for the two-day workshops to receive all the content. Morning coffee, bagels, and lunch will be provided.

     One-day Workshop (Accelerated) Saturday, October 30, 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. Science 215 Ahmanson Science Center, California Lutheran University 60 W. Olsen Rd. ,Thousand Oaks.
Contact Jim Wolf at 805 493-3385 or wolf@clunet.edu for reservations.

What will you receive

     You receive hands-on training in the five modules of the comprehensive CLUES program, a complete package of CLUES instructional material, and information on how to borrow all supplies and equipment for free! Hear about the Irvine Scholar Program, an instructor nominated four-year program that places career in a field of their choice.

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Dr. Maureen Harrigan (right) with an unidentified

Moorpark College Biotechnology
Program Success!

     Congratulations on the beginning of a fine manufacturing training program! For a first year program, having 11 students successfully complete requirements is excellent. Of these 11 graduates, four actively sought employment and three were hired at Baxter Healthcare: the fourth person is contemplating alternative offers: and three are transferring to four-year universities. Congratulations to each person involved, and especially to Dr. Maureen Harrigan.

Starting the "gowning up" procedure

Dr. Harrigan was a "force to be reckoned with" in creating the program. Although Baxter Healthcare scientists first approached Moorpark College officials in 1994 with the idea of the bio-manufacturing training program, only when Dr. Harrigan was hired in 1996 did plans develope to create the program. Without Dr. Harrigan's unceasing efforts, the program would not exist. She developed an advisory committee of faculty from academia, eight Baxter Biotechnology (Thousand Oaks, CA) department heads persons, and seven Amgen Inc. (Thousand Oaks, CA) scientists. Industry representatives were and continue to be actively involved in the program & development, lab improvements, instruction materials, and as adjunct instructors.

First courses began in the Fall Semester of 1998, with the specially designed modules for manufacturing taught in the Spring Semester of 1999. A miniature manufacturing facility was formed in lab space rented from California State University Channel Islands. (See photos.)

 

Even the walls had to be washed as a practice for a lab protocol that is used in manufacturing facilities! Five companies, with more than 50 instructors, participated in the instruction. The students felt that they benefited greatly from the lab facility. Moorpark College Biotechnology Program also applied for, and was awarded, two grants for the next two years, one from the State of California through Vocational and Technical Education Act ($91,683), and the second from the National Science Foundation Advanced Technology Education Act ($339,538). More on those grants in the next newsletter!

An unidentified student washes the walls.

Graduates of the program received a certificate in manufacturing training.
Moorpark College also awards A.A. degrees in biotechnology.

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Working Graduate of a
Regional College
Biotechnology Program

     Justin Paroski, graduate of the Ventura College Biotechnology Program, is a Manufacturing Operator in the NESP production facility at Amgen. He completed a certificate in Biotechnology in 1997, and has been working in this position since he graduated. He heard about the program from a faculty member, and took an intensive summer class at the college while working at another job.

     “I was the classic working student. I needed to work, but I wanted a better job,” says Justin. He prepares reagents and solutions and assists others in the production of one Amgen’s most important drugs.

     “I like the fact that this drug helps people, as well as supports me in my job” said Justin. He is proud of what he does and recommends the program to others who really want to do something that counts in life.

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EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE

The CCBC personnel give preference to regional colleges as recipients for these items, but after that, it’s first come - first served.

• One laminar flow cabinet
• Some drybath warmers for enzyme studies
• Four ELISA plate readers and some plate washers to go with them
• Always plenty of pipette tips, call for sizes

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PLEA FOR QUALIFIED
ADJUNCT BIOLOGY
INSTRUCTORS AT
COLLEGE of the CANYONS

     “Apparently with the number of full-time jobs and /or full year replacement positions having been available, our active pool of qualified (both cell-molecular and organismal biology) adjunct instructors has dried up,” writes Don Takeda, Head of the biology Department at College of the Canyons. “We definitely will have part-time openings in the Spring of 2000.”

     If you know of anyone who could, and would, fill these positions, please contact Don Takeda at (661) 259-7800 ext. 3370 or email at takeda_d@mail.coc.cc.ca.us.

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