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Welcome to The Los Angeles/Orange County EWD Biotechnology Center

Wendie Johnston, Ph.D., Director
Room: U402
Telephone: 626 644-1412
Email: wajohnston@pasadena.edu
Fax: 626-507-8490


Funding: California Community College Chancellor's Office - Economic & Workforce Development (http://www.cccewd.net)

Director: Dr. Wendie Johnston

Mission: Development of a workforce for the life sciences industries. The mission of the grant promotes the following five points of partnership:

  1. Partnerships with Community Colleges

    Local community colleges offering curriculum in Biotechnology/related areas

    Partnerships with Community Colleges assist in developing curriculum and programs for the 37 community colleges in the region from the Central Coast to Orange County. Regional Affiliate Centers are hosted by Fullerton College and College of the Canyons. Pasadena City College's Biological Technology Program (http://www.pasadena.edu/biotech/) gives certificates in Biotech Lab Skills, Computational Biology and Stem Cell Culture. This training builds skills- based resumes for the life sciences workplace by providing project-based learning in a dedicated lab which closely simulates an industry workplace.

  2. Partnerships with K-12 Science

    The Amgen-Bruce Wallace Biotechnology Lab Program (www.bwbiotechprogram.com/) provides a three week recombinant DNA program with equipment, reagents, assistance, and training at no cost. Materials are produced by both the Program students and high school students participating in weekend workdays.

  3. Partnerships with Universities

    The Center is a partner in stem cell research training in collaboration with the California State University system. Pasadena City College has been awarded a CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Training Grant for $1.7M to fund curriculum and year- long internships in CIRM-supported facilities for 30 students. University partnerships also provide Bridge to the Baccalaureate internships.

  4. Partnerships with Industry

    The LA/OC Biotech Center assists in finding advisory board members, internships and equipment donations. An "umbrella membership" is maintained with the Southern California Biomedical Council (www.socalbio.org) which recently signed an MOU with BayBio and BIOCOM to enhance industry networking in LA and Orange counties.

  5. Partnerships with Economic Development

    The Center is a partner in the Pasadena Bioscience Collaborative Incubation and Training Facility (www.pasadenabiosci.com/).

    The PBC Incubator hosts the LA/OC Biotechnology Center Office and training workshops for students and faculty. Students can also work as interns for tenants in the incubation facility.

    The LA/OC Biotech Center works with local and statewide groups to respond to workforce training grant opportunities and bring community college talents to these projects.