VSU-VCU Pharmaceutical Engineering Pathways Project

Virginia State University, in collaboration with several strategic partners, proposed the establishment of an Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and R&D Cluster (Pharma Cluster Coalition) in Central Virginia to the Build Back Better Regional Challenge (BBBRC) in order to create US self-reliance in the manufacturing arena. The Coronavirus Pandemic exposed American dependence on flawed global supply chains for our country’s most fundamental pharmaceutical needs, especially access to critical medicines. The aim of the Pharma Cluster Coalition is to strategically strengthen the regional economy through infrastructure, innovation, workforce, and supply chain investments.

Virginia State University (VSU) and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) with the support of the region’s emerging Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and R&D Cluster is implementing a joint Pharmaceutical Engineering Pathways Project for underrepresented students to connect them with employers offering historically high-reward careers.

The VSU-VCU Pharmaceutical Engineering Pathways Project will utilize five (5) education and research capacity-building initiatives to provide the following, with the intent to uniquely qualify a diverse highly skilled workforce to support the research and manufacturing needs in our Region:

• Increased access to education for historically underserved students.
• Direct learning support through scholarships and stipends.
• Hands-on experiences to train students in chemistry and chemical/manufacturing engineering.