WEST WINDSOR – 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 training programs, state-of-the-art facilities, and industry-response curricula to help build a pipeline for new and emerging high-demand roles in New Jersey.

As part of this effort, leading community colleges, Mercer County Community College (MCCC), Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC), and Middlesex College (MC), 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.

“We could not be more excited about the opportunity to partner with The New Jersey Council of County Colleges, Johnson & Johnson, Raritan Valley Community College, and Middlesex College on this important endeavor,” said Dr. Deborah E. Preston, MCCC President. “Together, through NJBioFutures, we will work to prepare students for bright futures in cell and gene therapeutics, which will not only provide rewarding careers, but the potential for life-saving breakthroughs.”

NJBioFutures was established under the Center of Workforce Innovation for Aseptic Processing and Biomanufacturing under the New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities statewide initiative led by the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development. As a founding sponsor of the coalition, Johnson & Johnson is contributing $1 million to NJBioFutures to support the development of curricula and modernization of training and lab facilities across Raritan, Middlesex and Mercer County community colleges, including a mobile lab for MCCC on the James Kerney Campus in Trenton.

“Johnson & Johnson’s role as the Founding Sponsor of NJBioFutures reinforces our commitment to economic and workforce development in New Jersey and will provide more pathways into good-paying, high-demand jobs in an emerging life sciences sector that keeps New Jersey at the forefront of health innovation,” said Joaquin Duato, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Johnson & Johnson.

“At MCCC we have been preparing students for the promising growth in the therapeutics sector,” said Dr. Gonzalo Perez, Assistant Vice President, Division of Workforce Education and Innovation. “We look forward to creating a lab on MCCC’s James Kerney Campus where students will receive the highest level of instruction in the cell and gene industry which they will undoubtedly use to benefit the greater community.”

“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.”

About Mercer County Community College
Established in 1966, Mercer County Community College is a publicly supported comprehensive institution that provides opportunities for higher education through an open-door admission policy. The scenic 292-acre West Windsor Campus was opened in 1972 to serve the needs of Mercer County residents. MCCC’s James Kerney Campus, located in downtown Trenton, serves as an educational and cultural hub for city residents that meets the changing needs of thousands of students and community members seeking educational fulfillment and personal and career growth. President: Deborah E. Preston, Ph.D.; www.mccc.edu


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