The New Jersey Innovation Institute’s Biopharma Division welcomed Kevin D. Belfield to its advisory committee. The committee is made up of executives from leading pharmaceutical and biotech organizations, and Dr. Belfield — a renowned scientist and the Dean of Science and Liberal Arts at NJIT — will be a valuable addition.
Dr. Belfield joined NJIT as Dean of the College of Science and Liberal Arts in 2014. He is a professor of Chemistry and Environmental Science and a Becton Dickinson Endowed Research Professor. He was elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2013 and Fellow of the American Chemical Society in 2019.
As a pioneer in multiphoton photochemistry and photonic materials, Dr. Belfield’s research interests range from developing contrast agents for early detection of cancer and neurological diseases, to the development of novel non-viral gene delivery vectors, and new paradigms for photodynamic cancer therapy.
“Dr. Belfield has been a strong supporter of the NJII Cell & Gene Therapy Development Center from the very beginning,” said NJII Senior Manager Dr. Haro Hartounian, the general manager of Biopharma. “He brings unique value and great passion to our advisory committee.”
The Biopharma Division provides both well-established biopharmaceutical companies and promising start-ups access to a more affordable, efficient and flexible option for process development, cGMP-grade clinical manufacturing, as well as workforce development programs that focus on the latest advances and technologies in cell and gene therapy.
Dr. Belfield recently oversaw the launch of two new educational programs in cell and gene therapy at NJIT — a 30-credit Master of Science degree and a four-course graduate certificate program designed to train the next-generation workforce to meet the challenges that the industry is facing.
“I am honored to serve on the advisory committee among many accomplished leaders,” Dr. Belfield said. “I strongly believe that the Cell and Gene Therapy Development Center at NJII, now called BioCentriq, will be a major hub for developing the next generation of therapies and professionals.”
To learn more about the Biopharma Division at NJII, please visit njii.com/biopharma.