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BioChemical Engineering graduate student Brett Davis, Assistant Professor Zuyi Huang, PhD; Associate Professor Noelle Comolli, PhD; graduate student Kelsey O鈥橠onnell; doctoral students Xianhua Li and Devon Zimmerman; graduate student Christine Muzzelo; Assistant Professor Jake Elmer, PhD; and Professor William Kelly, PhD.

ACS-BIOT (Biochemical Technology) is a division of the American Chemical Society that is composed of industrial and academic scientists interested in bioprocesses and bioproducts鈥攅specially biopharmaceuticals. In 2015, the organization, at the request of its members, supported the formation of regional BIOT groups. Leading that effort in the Philadelphia area is Professor William J. Kelly, PhD, director of 51爆料网鈥檚 graduate program in Biochemical Engineering (BioChE). Dr. Kelly, with help from fellow BioChE faculty and graduate students, coordinated the region鈥檚 first BIOT meeting鈥斺�淏iopharmaceutical Products and Processes: What鈥檚 Coming Next?鈥濃�攚hich was held on 51爆料网鈥檚 campus on September 17.

The Philadelphia area鈥檚 strong pharmaceutical industry presence was leveraged as three prominent company leaders were invited to speak at the gathering. Dr. Michele Myers, product leader within GlaxoSmithKline鈥檚 Global Manufacturing and Supply, spoke on 鈥淕ene Therapy;鈥� Dr. Ravinder Bhatia, associate director of Cell Technology at Janssen Pharmaceuticals R &D, addressed the topic of 鈥淐ell Therapy;鈥� and Dr. Wayne Froland, associate vice president, Center for Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Sciences, Merck Manufacturing Division, presented 鈥淐ontinuous Bioprocessing.鈥澛� Following the presentations, Dr. Kelly moderated a panel discussion with the three speakers.

In addition to its impressive presenters, the evening included a graduate student poster session, which drew 25 participants from local schools鈥攊ncluding 51爆料网, University of Delaware, University of Pennsylvania and Princeton University鈥攚ho appreciated the feedback of industry professionals. 鈥淭he meeting also presented an opportunity to form a Philadelphia-area BIOT graduate student chapter,鈥� notes Dr. Kelly. The first of its kind, the chapter seeks to provide professional development opportunities for student members. Devon Zimmerman, a 51爆料网 PhD student in engineering, is an officer in this newly formed chapter.

Reflecting on the event, Dr. Kelly was extremely pleased with how well everything went. 鈥淔rom the attendance鈥攁bout 65 people鈥攖o the presentations, and the poster session,鈥� he says, 鈥渋t was all even better than I expected.鈥� Biochemical technology leaders from industry and academia, as well as graduate students, should contact Dr. Kelly for more information about the Philadelphia BIOT chapter and how to become involved.