Most of us have heard of biotechnology and bioengineering, which have been alternately thrilling and terrifying fields since the 1970s.
Unlocking a micro-universe at the cellular and molecular level, these technologies engineer and adapt living cells, enzymes and biological systems for a wide variety of uses in medicine, therapies and other fields.
Scientists have created everything from promising pharmaceuticals and vaccines to personalized and advanced medical devices, biofuels that reduce dependence on fossil fuels and some very scary viruses.
Equally important as the lab creations, but far less known, is biomanufacturing, through which discoveries are brought out of the lab to the public and the marketplace.
Sagil James, a professor and chair of mechanical engineering and co-director of Cal State Fullerton's Center for Collaborative Research and Protodevelopment, describes it this way:
"Think of biotechnology as the science and bioengineering as designing and engineering of systems. Biomanufacturing is industrial-scale production. It's where lab breakthroughs become reliable, reproducible products."
He likens it to the industrial kitchen that takes a home recipe and scales, standardizes and ensures safety so customers can trust the product.
These days, there is a booming need for the technicians and operators who work in these biomanufacturing "kitchens."
It is a need Cal State Fullerton is addressing through its workforce readiness training programs at the Titan Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory. Supported by grants launched in 2022 and investments from industry partners, including Apple and Edwards Lifesciences, it is part of the CSU system's Global Hispanic Serving Institution Equity Innovation, which aims to increase opportunities in science, technology, education and math.
In particular, the education program is aimed at "reaching students from historically underrepresented and low-income communities, so they have equitable access to these high-growth career pathways," according to James.
One barrier of biomanufacturing for some students is the preconception that advanced knowledge in the sciences is required to enter the field.
Biomanufacturing by name alone can be intimidating, and James said that has been a hurdle.
"We could sense hesitancy," he said, so the program has sought to build and use learning tools to introduce the field in innovative and attractive ways.
"We found we could bring in virtual reality and augmented reality to (engage) students," James said. "It was more enjoyable."
The university is also working to develop programs and curricula for high school Career Technical Education students as well as college students seeking certificate programs that lead to industry jobs.
According to James, CSUF is coordinating with several local high schools and CTE pathways, as well as nearby community colleges and CSU partners, to align modules with existing courses and certificates.
The cutting-edge augmented- and virtual reality training modules and bioprocess learning activities are being piloted this year, and the hope is to package them for broader use the following academic year to create certificate proposals and transfer-friendly course bundles.
One of the CSUF students helping lead this effort is graduate student Wendy Joya.
"The goal is to introduce young minds to the field of biomanufacturing early and provide them with foundational knowledge and skills that can lead to meaningful career pathways," Joya, who holds a bachelor's degree in computer science, told the CSUF News.
The university is also introducing students to developing technology and applications such as using 3D bioprinters, which create substances that mimic the properties of real biological tissue.
The potential career pathways are wide and lucrative in an industry that shows strong and sustained growth.
Independent analyses of the global biomanufacturing market show it nearly doubling from about 20.5 billion jobs in 2023 to 39.4 billion in 2032, a compound annual growth rate of 7.5%.
"To us, that signals durable growth in advanced platforms and steady demand for a trained workforce that understands GMP (Good Manufacturing Processes) and automation," James said.
Biomanufacturing is quickly becoming a field of study on its own at colleges, universities and trade institutes. Schools such as Solano, Mira Costa and Moorpark colleges offer specific Bachelor of Science degrees in biomanufacturing.
"Many programs now offer bioprocessing/biomanufacturing certificates or tracks distinct from general biotech," according to James. "We expect continued specialization that complements two- and four-year degrees."
Despite its potential to vastly improve the lives of the public, biotechnology is not without potentially disastrous applications.
These include potential environmental harm from genetically modified organisms on biodiversity; creation of "superweeds" and "superbugs;" ethical and religious concerns about creation; and, most alarming, bioterrorism through the creation and release on the public of biotoxins and deadly viruses.
James is acutely aware of potential dangers and the need to "keep what belongs in the lab, in the lab."
"In biomanufacturing, we emphasize ethics and safety by ensuring products improve lives without widening disparities, practicing strict biosafety and biosecurity and fostering a strong regulatory culture of quality, traceability and documentation," he said.