BioFORCE: Engaging with the pharma industry at the National Center for Therapeutics Manufacturing
I attended the first BioFORCE session in the summer of 2019. It was a thrilling and refreshing experience which I thoroughly enjoyed. I conducted experiments in labs, met people with similar interests as mine, toured labs, talked to professionals, and visited an amazing campus.
On the first day, we played icebreakers and toured the Texas A&M campus. We learned a lot about each other as well as the history and landmarks of the college.
On the second day, we went through a module on the Introduction to Pharmaceutical Manufacturing. We also learned aseptic techniques in the lab and were introduced to interesting machinery used in labs, such as the VAP Air Analyzer, the Spectrophotometer, the Centrifuge, etc. We also did a pipetting and bacterial plating lab in which we learned the basics of how to pipet and how to plate E. Coli on agar plates. We also learned about gram staining and how it distinguishes between cell walls containing peptidoglycan and lipopolysaccharides, LPS, or endotoxins. Then, we gram-stained E. Coli and viewed it and other bacteria under microscopes. We then went to the recreation center and played games such as racquetball, volleyball, basketball, and ping-pong.
On the third day, we toured the TIGM and TIPS facilities and viewed equipment and procedures such as Computerized Tomography (CT) machines for veterinary studies, and watching scientists put CRISPR into mice DNA. We then transformed the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP), through plasmids, into E. Coli cells. After that, we used different colored proteins to paint bacteria. After working in the lab, we went to the recreation center to spend some free time.
On the fourth day, we toured the Sacchettini lab where scientists were finding cures for Tuberculosis using crystallization methods. We also learned about GFP purification and then conducted the procedure. Afterward, we watched the Hydrogen Ion Chromatography procedure of isolating GFP.
On the fifth day, we checked out and then went to the labs to grow E. Coli cells. Afterward, we took our final quiz and then went on to completion ceremonies.
Overall, it was a fascinating experience. I learned a lot and will definitely attend next year. I loved gaining more lab experience and learning about pharmaceutical manufacturing basics. I had a great time visiting TIGM and TIPS and learning about what they do at their facilities. I also enjoyed meeting new people from Texas and neighboring states as well as visiting a campus with a rich community and history. It was a memorable experience and I will definitely stay in touch with the community I met.
