What is CATCMB?

DIRECTOR:

Dr. Venigalla B. Rao

MISSION: The Center for Advanced Training in Cell and Molecular Biology, a unit of the Department of Biology at The Catholic University of America has been established in 1983 as an International Center to provide expert training for scientists, technicians, graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. Its focus is on the new and established biomedically-related concepts and technologies which provide the major impetus for contemporary research,innovative industrial applications, and sophisticated diagnostic laboratory techniques.

CATCMB is UNIQUE: The scope of our program, with an emphasis on extensive "hands-on" training, makes CATCMB unique. These training programs provide CATCMB-trained scientists with the opportunity to rapidly delve into new disciplines, acquire valuable information about principles, methods, instruments, supplies, literature, short-cuts, and pit-falls.

PARTICIPANT PROFILES: Thousands of scientists, both domestic and foreign, were trained by CATCMB. Approximately 65% of these trainees had a doctorate; virtually all attendees had at least a bachelor's degree. Industry, academia, and government were equally represented. Most of the trainees were bench scientists who wanted to acquire a new research tool. Other trainees attended in order to acquire "literacy" or an up-date regarding a rapidly evolving field.

CATCMB OUTREACH PROGRAMS: CATCMB has trained foreign scientists both at home and abroad through joint ventures with USAID and the National Research Council and the Inter-American University in Puerto Rico.

OFF-SITE WORKSHOPS: CATCMB has offered “on-the-road” lecture and hands-on workshops across the country both in academia and biotech industry. These are conducted at the site of the host institutions and can be customized to meet the needs of the participants. Since 1998, the main focus of CATCMB has been conducting offsite workshops.

CATCMB Custom Designed "Off-Site" Training Programs

Drawing from its repertoire of expert researchers and diversity of programs, CATCMB can custom design training programs to meet the needs of those wishing to have a training program conducted at their site. We have conducted many programs throughout the country and overseas to those organizations/institutions wishing to train a group of individuals in programs designed for their specific needs. Besides the benefit of client-specific services this avenue of training makes sound economic sense. It is much more cost-effective to have several trainers travel to your site as opposed to sending a group of researchers to Washington, D.C. with the incumbent expenses involved. Programs can be lecture-only, lecture and full "hands-on" laboratory sessions, or lectures and "demonstration" of the techniques covered.

The following are some of the institutions/organizations for which we have conducted custom-designed training programs at their site:

Abbott Laboratories

Bristol Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals

Society for Reproductive Medicine

Madison Area Technical College

Board of Science and Technology in International Development (BOSTID)

An agency of the National Research Council. This program provided the opportunity for us to put on a specialized two week training course for African scientists in Cameroon, West Africa.