CLAB is a public-private partnership of:
- Eight California State University campuses in the Los Angeles Region, CSU-Channel Islands, CSU-Dominguez Hills, CSU-Fullerton, CSU-Long Beach, Cal State LA, CSU-Northridge, Cal Poly-Pomona, and CSU-San Bernardino
- Pasadena City College
- Pasadena Bioscience Collaborative, a non-profit organization created to support the growing biotechnology industry in the San Gabriel Valley
- Southern California Biomedical Council, a biotechnology industry association in the greater Los Angeles region.
A Los Angeles Basin Biotechnology Training Center has been newly
established within C-LAB with a 2008 grant from the Small Business
Administration. The
center will work to better coordinate life sciences industry-responsive
curriculum and training opportunities in the LA Basin. The
aims of the center’s offerings will be to increase career opportunities
at all educational levels, to respond to current life sciences industry-specific
workforce needs, and to bridge the gap between educational offerings
and the skill sets needed by life science companies. The center
will offer practical, cutting-edge laboratory experiences, short-term
workshops, specialized courses and programs taught within the context
of the regulated business environment unique to this industry. The
LA center will facilitate training and placement of highly skilled
individuals -- from entry-level technical staff through career scientists.
The life sciences industry represents one of the nation’s most
promising high tech growth industries in terms of job creation, entry
level opportunities, wage growth and career path possibilities. Industry
leaders recognize that the higher education systems in California are
supplying excellent graduates from fundamental science, technology,
engineering and math (STEM) education and research programs. However,
this sector also needs employees familiar with the industry’s
regulated environment, clinical product development, and production
requirements that lead to safe and effective therapies, devices and
diagnostics. The life sciences industry has overwhelmingly endorsed
the need for industry-responsive training programs, recognizing that
80% of the workforce is made up of professionals at the masters’ degree
level or lower. California’s community colleges and state universities
are uniquely positioned to fill this need, organized around and coordinated
by regional workforce training centers. The Los Angeles Economy & Jobs
Committee recently recommended better funding and coordination for
workforce delivery systems in the region – this project aims
to address those needs for the life sciences industry sector.