Greensboro, N.C., April 19, 2024 – Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T) announced today the opening of the Merck Biotechnology Learning Center at Gateway Research Park in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The Merck Biotechnology Learning Center is a 4,025-square-foot facility that includes classroom space, a process laboratory and state-of-the-art biopharmaceutical manufacturing equipment. In the Learning Center, students and Merck trainees will experience hands-on learning and advanced discovery opportunities to enhance academic programming and training for biotechnology careers.
“We are embarking on a significant journey with the launch of the Merck Biotechnology Learning Center and our collaboration with N.C. A&T,” said Sanat Chattopadhyay, executive vice president and president, Merck Manufacturing Division. “The Learning Center is not just a building; it’s an incubator for innovation, a path to discovery, and a beacon guiding the next generation of thinkers, problem-solvers and leaders who will drive our industry forward.”
The opening was marked with a joint celebration that included senior leaders from both Merck and N.C. A&T, current and former N.C. A&T students, and local government officials, including North Carolina Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. Attendees participated in tours of the lab and classroom facilities to see firsthand the immersive learning opportunities.
Merck and N.C. A&T, America’s premier historically Black doctoral research university, developed this collaboration based on mutual values of innovation, community engagement and a commitment to diversity and inclusion. The joint effort between Merck and N.C. A&T supports the increasing need for biotech training and education in North Carolina and highlights the importance of business and historically Black college and university (HBCU) cooperation in growing diverse talent in the biotech sector.
“The Merck Biotechnology Learning Center will provide opportunities for N.C. A&T students to understand what a career in biotech looks like,” said Amanda Taylor, vice president and plant manager at the Merck Manufacturing Division site in Durham, North Carolina. “We have several wonderful N.C. A&T graduates working at our Durham site already, and there is so much growth in manufacturing across North Carolina. Through our collaboration with N.C. A&T, we’re developing new and innovative ways to build a pipeline of talent in the Triad and beyond.”
The opening of the Merck Biotechnology Learning Center is the launch of a long-term collaboration between Merck and N.C. A&T. The two organizations will partner on several initiatives to support student enrichment, including curricula development, a speaker series and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) community outreach.
“I am thrilled to announce our groundbreaking collaboration with Merck, which heralds a new era of innovation in biotechnology education,” said Tonya Smith-Jackson, Ph.D., N.C. A&T provost and executive vice chancellor of Academic Affairs. “This partnership signifies a union between academia and industry, and a commitment to excellence, innovation and the advancement of scientific knowledge, as it not only provides our students with unparalleled access to state-of-the-art labs, but also invaluable mentorship from Merck professionals, ensuring they emerge as industry-ready leaders poised to shape the future of biotechnology. The Merck Biotechnology Learning Center will serve as a hub of learning and discovery, and it is also the start of a collaboration where we are going to jointly advance the mission of both Merck and N.C. A&T.”
Merck has been a member of the North Carolina community for more than 40 years. Today, nearly 1,500 Merck colleagues work at North Carolina facilities in Durham and Wilson, including numerous N.C. A&T alums. The N.C. A&T College of Engineering is the No. 1 producer of African American graduates in engineering in the United States.
About Merck
At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. We aspire to be the premier researchintensive biopharmaceutical company in the world – and today, we are at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We foster a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operate responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable and healthy future for all people and communities. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA
This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (the “company”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
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Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.
The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).
About North Carolina A&T State University
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is the nation’s largest historically Black university, as well one of the top 25 “Most Innovative” universities in America (U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2024). North Carolina A&T is a land-grant, doctoral research university and a constituent member of the University of North Carolina System. A&T is widely recognized for its leadership in producing graduates in engineering, agriculture and other STEM fields. The university was established in 1891 and is located in Greensboro, North Carolina.
