Discipline: Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences
Subcategory: Social Sciences/Psychology/Economics
Session: 1
Room: Park Tower 8216
Priscilla Pedrosa Martinez - University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
Co-Author(s): Dereck Hernández (dereck.hernandez1@upr.edu) & Ricardo Rondán (ricardo.rondan@upr.edu), BSBA Undergraduate Students; José Encarnación (jose.encarnación1@upr.edu), BSB & Dra. Maria Amador-Dumois (mariaa.amador@upr.edu), Professor
Cell Therapies Manufacturing is an emerging industry that will transform the practice of traditional medicine. Its primary focus is in the areas of CAR-T therapy for cancer treatments, Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC) for skeletal diseases and iPSC-derived Cardiomyocytes for cardiology. The objective of this research is to develop the current cell manufacturing technologies industry global value chain (GVC) and the map Puerto Rico current positioning in the GVC. Cell manufacturing technologies include therapies and medical devices, therefore, we developed two GVCs. The study framework is an adaptation of the traditional GVC methodology developed by Gary Gereffi (1995, 1999), and Humphrey and Sturgeon (2002) to an emergent industry. The GVC dimensions are the input-output structure, geographical considerations, governance structure, upgrading, industry stakeholders, and institutional context. Input-output structure focuses on ongoing research of support activities, and primary activities participants, mostly suppliers, research institutions, manufacturers, distributors, hospitals, commercialization institutions, and after-service providers. The methodology uses mixed method research with document research, interviews, and survey. The results of the study present two interdependent but distinctive global value chains one with traditional high- and low-value structure and another with non-traditional. We identified key success factors and barriers to the GVC such as insurance, human capital and funding. Puerto Rico has a great possibility of getting involved in this industry, there are many companies that are working in the USA on different aspects of the Cell Manufacturing Therapies and have infrastructures established in Puerto Rico. Our future plans include diving deeper into more specifics of each company and conducting in person and virtual interviews to get feedback on the Global Value Chains we have developed.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. EEC-1648035
Faculty Advisor: Maria A. Amador Dumois, mariaa.amador@upr.edu
Role: In this research I worked on identifying what companies are lead key players in the areas of suppliers, manufacturing and direct service in the Cell Therapy Manufacturing (CMaT) emerging industry. These were identified based on how their mission and product offerings align with our project. A comparison of existing companies in Puerto Rico that have Cell Therapy or similar departments in the United States was also made. This information was used to develop Global Value Chain models as a team.