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In medicine, cell and gene treatments are currently one of the most active areas of study and investment. Because of the recent success of numerous innovative gene and cell treatments, as well as considerable funding from private investment, initial public offerings, and corporate acquisitions, the appeal is clear.
Cell and gene treatments have received a lot of attention and investment in recent years, but they are still relatively new to the scene.
The majority of therapies are still in their early stages and won’t be ready for patient use anytime soon because cell and gene research accounts for just a small portion of all late-stage studies. Still, given that early-stage cell and gene trials account for 10% of clinical activity is encouraging, given that the sector is so new.
Cell and gene therapies have received a relatively small percentage (less than 1%) of the total money invested in conventional pharmaceuticals and biologicals. Regardless, they show a clear impact on other fields. Continued investments fuel new startup creation and draws seasoned professionals from other industries. Comparable to the early days of ‘traditional’ biotechnology, in which pharmaceutical businesses lagged behind their biotech counterparts, Cell and Gene Therapies will likely follow a similar path.
Right now, the industry is seeking a wide variety of scientist-based professions thanks to its growth. And, it seems biotech businesses have come to the point where they are looking for people with little or no expertise to senior industry leaders. Due to the specialized nature of the work, anyone with a broad background or experience in gene therapy is, of course, viewed as more appealing. But with a market that is so saturated, competition is killing.
Skills:
And, naturally, combined with a proven trackrecord to work independently and effectively plan and organize work activities and prioritize task completion to meet schedules and deadlines.
As a relatively new field of medical research, regenerative medicine offers the opportunity to find a cure for many diseases that were, up until recently, considered incurable. Regenerative medicine has the potential to have an impact across the whole spectrum of health care, from diagnosis and management to treatment. It can even directly save lives by providing organs that are not available through transplant.
Regenerative medicine is a whole new frontier in medical research. The creation of stem cells using nanotechnology is currently under development using mice. If successfully achieved in humans, this will be one of the most important discoveries in medical history. Another challenge of using stem cells is encouraging them to grow into the specific type of tissue that is required. However, researchers have recently developed a method of using nanoscience to physically influence the stem cells’ growth. These types of discoveries are internationally recognised as essential to the future of medicine, and by studying regenerative medicine, you could be a part of them.
In an immature industry experiencing rapid growth, talent demand always far outweighs supply and can actually result in products failing, eventually. This is often not because of the science but because businesses lack the right people. More specifically, sufficiently qualified people. That may sound a little harsh, but it’s a reality most Cell & Gene Therapy scale-ups out there.
Of the hundreds of businesses currently operating and new ones emerging and back by solid investments daily, only a few will survive. Now re-read that sentence in the voice of David Attenborough for added melodramatic effect.
Shortly, there isn’t enough talent to serve everyone, and some will succeed, some won’t. The fact that most of the losses will be due to a lack of people instead of science also yields huge opportunities for young professionals, though. How can you excel in the Cell and Gene Therapy field? By specialising in any of the below areas.
Currently, the scalability of viral generation at the pre-clinical stage is still limited and require new and improved methodologies to successfully transfer early-stage therapies into commercial-scale manufacture. Process development scientists are important to the increased capacity of manufacturers to meet the increased demand for clinical trial materials and commercial production.
To date, there are relatively few scientists with experience in this area of expertise. Biotech scale-up focusing on Cell and Gene Therapies have difficulty attracting professional and experienced process developers at all levels of the organization, but difficult positions to fill are, e.g., senior engineers, cell lines developers, and scientists from both the upstream and downstream processing points of view.
Of course, we want all Cell and Gene Therapy provided to a patient to be safe, effective, and conform to a predefined set of quality requirements (GMP) as well, right?
For any drug product, the Quality Assurance system, Qualified Person, and Quality Control lab, equipped with accredited analytical equipment, helps to ensure that patients receive high-quality products.
Of course, we want all Cell and Gene Therapy provided to a patient to be safe, effective, and conform to a predefined set of quality requirements (GMP) as well, right? But it’s a fact that regulation will always follow innovation. So, the pool of experts that can help to define the criteria, requirements, and conditions for your QA/QC program isn’t available at large.
Producing viral vectors for gene therapy in a sufficient quantity to be effective is challenging and expensive, to say the least. For the time being, these viruses require very specialized facilities that are diametrically opposed to those employed to synthesize small molecules and, as such, requires differentiated skills.
Manufacturing and distribution systems are globalizing as they transitionand additional responsibilities and capabilities place a strain on Cell and Gene Therapy organizations, which are rushing to hire specialists from a narrow pool of eligible individuals. Manufacturing specialists are now being recruited from biologics and other fields, as companies want professionals who can adapt their current skillset to Cell and Gene therapy. However, the complete operation to manufacture and deliver Cell and Gene Therapies requires hundreds, if not thousands, of brilliant individuals to bring them from development to patients.
Because of the industry’s immaturity, there is a lack of experienced managers with real-world, end-to-end competence in these critical strategic and tactical positions. And quite frankly, most likely Cell and Gene Therapy companies need to be willing to go above and above the conventional compensation package to attract the best candidates.
So, we’ve established a scarcity of knowledge in the Cell and Gene Therapy sector because of its rapid development. Although the need for R&D professionals will never go away and applies to other areas in Life Sciences, the substantial advances in the Cell and Gene Therapy sector demand extra attention.
As part of a comprehensive recruitment process, try to look outside the box and broaden your search beyond the professionals who currently tick the checkboxes of your search criteria.
For entry-level potentials, engage with local institutions to build links and tap into the academic potential beyond graduation and put them through a tailored, sound program.
While experienced cell manufacturing talent is a rare commodity in all but the densest and most mature life sciences destinations, professionals already experienced in manufacturing biological drugs, vaccines and similar medicines can step into these new roles with comparatively little effort.
Demand for talent is intense as capacity ramps up around the globe. As a result, cell and Gene Therapy professionals are often open to relocation if the process is facilitated. Not necessarily driven by higher salaries, proximity to leading Life Sciences Academia and the well-known hubs can also be a convincing bargaining chip.
Are you a company that Cell and Gene Therapy professionals want to work at? Are your colleagues all brand ambassadors? Candidates can have their pick and will have plenty of opportunities to select. So, make sure that you’re breathing biotech and that your current employees are a source of inspiration regarding you as an employer. Define a vision that your audience can relate to and re-establish your employer brand identity. A clear and captivating employer brand is a powerful tool to utilize when competing for talent.
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