The Bench to Shop training program sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate enables next-generation researchers (graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and early career faculty) to gain an understanding of the business regulations, federal and international processes, and research requirements needed to take Transboundary Animal Disease (TAD) research through technology transition to commercialization. In the long-term, this program seeks to assists the creation and maintenance of a workforce experienced in working with Tier 1-3 pathogens with the aim of supporting of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility and the Homeland Security Enterprise (HSE).
Following the completion of a 57 hour virtual blended-learning online course, selected applicants complete a 3-week experiential training course and a one-month follow-up project. This course is valued at $10,000 per participant. A $2,000 training certificate fee (and $30 processing fee) is required from each selected trainee which is paid by a sponsor (usually by a university or employer).
The 3-week experiential training course involves hands-on training at the following sites:
- Texas A&M University and FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies (College Station, Texas) – trainees experience the processes necessary for moving a product from academic R&D through the technology and business transition pipeline.
- University of Texas Medical Branch–Galveston (Galveston, Texas) – trainees are familiarized with the regulations and procedures involved for in vitro and in vivo work in high containment facilities.
- Colorado State University and BioMARC (Fort Collins, Colorado) – trainees learn about transitioning small animal experiments to large animal full- scale experiments in a biosafety level 3 (BSL3) laboratory, and the steps necessary to transition R&D from academia to industry.
- Agricultural Research Council – Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute (Onderstepoort, South Africa) – trainees learn about international regulations involving work with high containment animal pathogens, large animal BSL3 laboratories, and how technology is transitioned to the global marketplace.
Download these PDFs to learn more: Bench to Shop Informational Flyer | 2017 Trainees | 2018 Trainees
