Dr. Tia Lyles-Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Philadelphia-based LucasPye Bio (LPB), a biologics contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), is ready to embrace the work ahead in order to expand opportunities for her company, as well as for other biomanufacturing organizations across the country.
As long overdue change takes shape and the number of women in the biotech industry continues to grow, it is important to recognize those that have created the path for the next generation of diverse leaders. BioBuzz wishes to acknowledge the incredible contributions and efforts of women who have made their mark on the industry.
Philadelphia has seen a 127% increase in cell and gene therapy employment since 2019.
That eye-popping stat comes from the University City Science Center’s 2022 report Greater Philadelphia Cell and Gene Therapy Workforce Update, a follow up to the 2020 Cell and Gene Therapy and Connected Health Workforce Analysis study. It translates to potentially thousands of open roles in the region known by the branding obsessed as Cellicon Valley.
And yet, that stat doesn’t necessarily mean Philadelphians in need of wages that would support a higher quality of life are trained for those available life science jobs — or even know they exist.
A Friday morning panel called “Workforce Development in the Life Sciences: Building Skills, Diversity and Education in Philadelphia and Beyond” during the 2022 B.PHL Innovation Fest dove into the barriers and opportunities for the life science industry’s workforce.
Phil Brooks, director of STEM workforce partnerships at the Science Center, and Tia Lyles-Williams, founder and CEO of both LucasPye Bio and HelaPlex, both sat on the panel moderated by Lauren Swartz, president and CEO of the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia.
Brooks’ work centers on exposure to professional opportunities through workforce development programs. Lyles-Williams said HelaPlex, a forthcoming Philly life…
A local CEO has big plans for a vacant, 6-acre property in Southwest Philadelphia. Those plans include bio-manufacturing, jobs, homes, education, diversity and more. Here are the details.
The life sciences industry is booming in our region and globally, which has put the need for more biotech talent in the spotlight. This urgent need for talent has finally made diversity and inclusion part of every discussion about talent acquisition and workforce development. Companies large and small are starting to take action to ensure their workforce demographics are right-sized to match a diverse workforce population.
The Jefferson Institute for Bioprocessing (JIB) is a jewel in the crown of Cellicon Valley. The institute provides critical training in biomanufacturing and bioprocessing for next-generation biologics, vaccines, and cell and gene therapies; skills that are in urgent demand by employers everywhere who are being challenged to find enough experienced employees to sustain their growth.
Tia Lyles-Williams, the founder & CEO of LucasPye BIO (LPB) and HelaPlex, is on a mission to lower development and manufacturing costs for emerging life science companies while bringing greater diversity to the life science industry.
