Blended Learning for Training of Cell Therapy Manufacturing Personnel

Performance Period: 1/15/2019 to 9/30/2021

The goal of this project is to create an online course on the fundamentals of cell therapy manufacturing that is coupled to a companion hands-on training component. Such a blended learning course currently does not exist anywhere for cell therapy manufacturing. Currently, there are few, if any, formal training programs for cell therapy manufacturing and training of individuals in the basics is carried out on an ad hoc basis by company subject matter experts when need arises.

Given the clinical successes and recent licensing approvals of CAR-T cell therapy products, there is a growing need for a well-trained workforce to deliver these lifesaving therapies. The development of an online resource that teaches important fundamental concepts, which is also tied into a hands-on training component, would accelerate the training of all levels of the cell therapy manufacturing workforce and decrease the resources required to bring new hires up to speed. Additionally, this type of blended learning environment modernizes learning such that the online component of the training will “immortalize” concepts so that they are available on demand, either to train individuals as they are hired or to review important concepts as needed.