This story originally on VeloCityOKC.com. 

BioTC, the state’s first biomanufacturing workforce training center, celebrated the completion of its first training cohort, held April 7-11. Led by the Oklahoma City Innovation District, the program prepares participants for entry-level roles in the biotechnology field.

The five-day training focused on core manufacturing practices and gave participants hands-on lab experience using industry-grade equipment. The cohort was designed to meet Wheeler Bio’s immediate need for manufacturing associates working on a melanoma vaccine.

“A lot of people in Oklahoma don't realize that this exists here,” said Koey Keylon, executive director of BioTC. “We're one of about six training centers that offer biotech, biomanufacturing and bioindustrial training at this scale and size, using industry-standard equipment.”

Unlike traditional training centers tied to higher education institutions, BioTC operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit within the Innovation District—providing flexibility to collaborate across universities, government and private industry. As part of the Oklahoma Biotech Innovation Cluster (OBIC) initiative—led by the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber in partnership with the University of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma City Innovation District and Echo Investment Capital—the center received $7 million from a $35 million federal Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant to support curriculum and operations. An additional $8 million from the American Rescue Plan Act funded industry-standard equipment, setting the center apart with a level of capital investment rarely seen at launch.

BioTC’s hands-on training model eliminates traditional barriers like costly, lecture-based instruction by focusing on practical skills and direct lab access. In partnership with companies like Wheeler Bio, the center customizes training to reduce onboarding time and accelerate hiring.

Designed for individuals with a minimum of a high school diploma or GED, the program prepares entry-level technicians for roles in production, analytics and quality control to help grow Oklahoma’s biotech workforce. “This program is the future of medicine here in Oklahoma, and if you keep pushing forward, it's going to be an amazing career for you,” said Priscilla Aguilar, a graduate of the first cohort.

Wheeler Bio partnered with BioTC to fill roles on its solution preparation team, adapting curriculum to focus on CDMO-specific skills, including lab math, batch records