Middlesex College Joins NJBioFutures Coalition to Advance Workforce Development in the New Jersey Cell and Gene Therapy Industry

The New Jersey Council of County Colleges (NJCCC), with support from Johnson & Johnson and other industry partners, has announced the launch of NJBioFutures, a groundbreaking workforce development coalition aimed at creating a sustainable, skilled talent pipeline to support New Jersey’s rapidly expanding cell and gene therapeutics sector.

The cell and gene therapy field has seen exponential growth over the past few years, with transformational advancements in treatments for cancer, autoimmune, neurological, and genetic disorders. However, the sector is also facing a shortage of skilled workers to support this growth.

To address this need, the NJBioFutures coalition will bring together experts from education, government, industry, and community stakeholders to offer differentiated training programs, state-of-the art facilities, and industry-responsive curricula to help build a pipeline for new and emerging high-demand roles in New Jersey.

As part of this effort, Middlesex College, Raritan Valley Community College, and Mercer County Community College will provide training and certification programs on cell and gene therapy biomanufacturing, biotechnology, and biopharmaceuticals. These programs will provide hands-on experience and prepare students for rewarding careers in an industry that is expected to continue its rapid growth.

“I am proud of the partnership that Middlesex College has developed with Johnson & Johnson in collaboration with two of our sister community colleges:  Raritan Valley Community College and Mercer County Community College,” said Middlesex College President Mark McCormick. “Working together – industry and the New Jersey community college sector under the auspices of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges – we can prepare employees for rewarding careers in the cell and gene therapeutics industry in Middlesex, Somerset, and Mercer counties.”

NJBioFutures was established under the Center of Workforce Innovation for Aseptic Processing and Biomanufacturing within the New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities statewide initiative, which is led by the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development.

“We are proud of the ecosystem of educators and industry partners established under the NJ Pathways to Career Opportunities initiative that served as the foundation for the creation of NJBioFutures. Through NJBioFutures, the public-private partnership between New Jersey’s community colleges and the life sciences industry, a pipeline of talent will be educated and trained to address the state’s workforce needs in the rapidly evolving life sciences and biomanufacturing sectors,” said Aaron Fichtner, president of NJCCC.

“I am proud to see Johnson & Johnson and our leading community colleges partnering on this monumental workforce development coalition,” said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. “NJBioFutures will facilitate cross-sector collaboration to expand New Jersey’s unique talent pool and build out our next generation of life science leaders.”

Read the full press release on the New Jersey Council of County Colleges website.