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Inside Bio-Trac: Training the Scientists Behind Biotech's Biggest Innovations
EPISODE 57 [LIVE]
What’s the Buzz?! | Inside Bio-Trac: Training the Scientists Behind Biotech's Biggest Innovations
For more than four decades, Bio-Trac® has been where research scientists go to master the newest laboratory technologies. From its origins at the National Institutes of Health to its current home at Montgomery College's Bioscience Education Center, the program has trained more than 19,500 scientists through 1,300+ hands-on workshops, helping researchers stay at the forefront of rapidly evolving science.
On this episode of What's the Buzz?!, Chris Frew sits down with Bio-Trac Director and Co-Founder Mark Nardone to explore why hands-on training remains one of the most critical—and often overlooked—drivers of life science innovation.
Together, they'll discuss:
How Bio-Trac became one of the nation's premier hands-on biotechnology training programs.
The technologies every research scientist should be watching, including CRISPR, spatial biology, organoids, single-cell analysis, next-generation sequencing, and AI-enabled research.
What Mark has learned after helping train nearly 20,000 scientists from academia, government, and industry. Why Montgomery College's bioscience ecosystem is becoming one of the region's hidden gems for workforce development and biotechnology education.
Whether you're a bench scientist, biotech leader, educator, student, or simply curious about where tomorrow's scientific breakthroughs begin, this conversation offers a fascinating look at the people and programs preparing the next generation of innovators.
Streamed on LinkedIn, YouTube, and Facebook.
About the Guest
Mark Nardone
Mark Nardone, in the role of Director and Co-founder of Bio-Trac®, brings over forty years of experience in designing, coordinating and implementing hands-on training workshops for research scientists. Since the program’s inception, over 19,500+ scientists have received training through a Bio-Trac® workshop. In February, 2019, Bio-Trac® received a State of Maryland Governors’ Citation for its “dedicated work in training research scientists from all over the world in cutting-edge techniques”
Bio-Trac® offers hands-on custom designed training programs that focus on targeted areas of molecular biology.
Team taught by active researchers (over 300 scientists from reputable institutions), Bio-Trac® has conducted over 1200 training workshops, providing hands-on training to over 19,000 research scientists. Originally offered at the NIH through the FAES (1985-2015), Bio-Trac® provides custom designed training programs for government, private and academic institutions nationally and internationally.
We have also been involved in several outreach programs, such as the MFSP (Minority Faculty Student Partnership program) initiative which provided hands-on training for over 425 college students and over 450 faculty members from HCBU, Hispanic and Native American Colleges and Universities (over 105 institutions represented). Other outreach programs include Bio-Trac BioPanels, Scientific Symposiums and Webinar Series as well as a supporter of the MD Science Olympiad.
Sample offerings but not limited to: CRISPR; Single Cell; Exosomes; Hepatocytes; Antibody Validation; Immuno Oncology Multiplexing; RNA-Seq: Principles, Methods & Computational Analysis; NGS; Metabolomics; Metagenomics; Bioinformatics; R; Python; Proteomics; Stem Cell (iPSC from Neural, Cardiomyocytes, Blood), Tissue Culture, 3D Cell Culture; Immunology; Vaccine Development; FACs, Real-Time, Quantitative and Digital PCR; Best Research & Laboratory Practices; Cell Line Authentication
About the Program
What's the Buzz?!
This weekly podcast, broadcast live, features life sciences leaders and regional ecosystem builders who share bold ideas, real stories, and what’s ahead for our industry.
Hosted by our CEO, Chris Frew, and powered by Heffron, this 30-minute virtual series is streamed across LinkedIn, YouTube, and Facebook — reaching thousands of professionals every episode.
The show highlights one-on-one conversations with founders, executives, strategists, and ecosystem builders. While focusing on the biohubs where we are most active, What’s the Buzz?! also explores emerging regions, trends, and innovations shaping the future of life sciences.
Topics include:
➡️ Biotech growth & investment trends
➡️ Workforce development & talent strategies
➡️ Emerging tools & technologies
➡️ Policy & ecosystem influence
➡️ Public-private collaboration
About the Sponsor
Heffron
Founded in 1922, Heffron Company is a fourth-generation, family-owned firm in the Washington, D.C. region redefining construction and service for complex, highly regulated environments.
With deep expertise in plumbing and HVAC, design-build, renovation and tenant services, and complex systems installation, Heffron supports mission-critical life sciences and biotech facilities alongside education, government, and commercial projects. Their work includes university research labs, federal research buildings, corporate R&D headquarters, and GMP-compliant biotech spaces.
Known for integrity, collaboration, and technical excellence, Heffron delivers reliable, high-performance systems through clear communication and consistent on-time, on-budget execution.