The Beginnings...

Miracosta first offered biotechnology classes in 1990, taught by experienced faculty and industry experts. Since its inception, the Biotechnology program has been largely suported by state and federal grants and the local industry. Miracosta Biotechnology served as the Southern California Biotechnology Center form 1996 to 2001, where it developed new curriculum, accepted donations from industry on behalf of the region, performed outreach to local high schools, and coordinated with local and state-wide initiatives with respect to biotechnology workforce development.

A Model Partnership...

The Success of the program attracted the attention of IDEC Pharmaceuticals in 2002 as they sought to assist in the development of a new training program that would address the unique needs of biologics production: process scale, process control, and compliance. This was a skill-set largely underdeveloped in San Diego County, where the industry was rooted in research and transitioning to later stages of development. With the support of the college and key leadership at IDEC (and later BiogenIdec and Genentech), a new curriculum in Bioprocess Technology was developed that offered an educational program unlike any other in this region

A Place to Call Their Own...

BiogenIdec also recognized the need to have a dedicated immersive environment to conduct the training necessary for the new bioprocessing cirriculum. They donated almost $400,000 to the college to support the remodel of a new facility and to attract the lead faculty member. In partnership with many local biotechnology industry veterans, including McGraw/Baldwin Architects, DPR Construction, and members of the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers (ISPE), the facility was designed, constructed and opened to classes in 2006. The 3500-square foot facility boasts of $1-million in state-of-the-art equipment, underscoring the hand-on approach MiraCosta has taken to train highly qualified technicians for the local biotechnology industry.

Program Success...

In recognition of the partnerships and years of service to the local community, the college was designation by the US Department of Labor as a Center of Excellence in Bioprocessing. The program has received grants form the state in 2005 and 2006 to engage and promote the biotechnologycareer pathways to high school students and further build the community within North County San Diego. Also in 2006, the lead instructor for the Bioprocess Technology program was recognized by the industry magazine Pharmaceutical Technology as one of the pharmaceutical industry's most talented young professionals. Graduate success rate has been better than 90% for those seeking immediate employment or transfer for further education. In addition, individuals that are currently employed in the industry use the program coursework for professional development purposes.