AREA COLLEGES CATCH BIOTECHNOLOGY WAVE.

Byline: Evan Pondel Staff Writer

The proliferation of biotechnology companies along the San Fernando Valley's 101 Corridor has drawn the attention of academia, as community colleges evolve their curricula to prepare students for this burgeoning field.

More than 470 biotechnology companies are in the area stretching from Camarillo to Pasadena and the Santa Monica Mountains to the northern Los Angeles County line, according to Bob Scott, executive vice chairman of the Economic Alliance of San Fernando Valley.

``There is a substantial subcluster of biotech firms in the San Fernando Valley because of the quality of life,'' Scott said. ``When you're trying to attract a work force it's pretty hard to attract them to Wisconsin, and also because you have the educational institutions in this area.''

Los Angeles Valley College plans to launch the Biomed Biotech Academy in the spring of 2002, and will enable 50 high school students to enroll in biomed courses, said A. Susan Carleo, vice president of academic affairs at Valley College.

``Between schools and companies, we are a resource to our community, and we're trying to get the word out,'' she said.

Students who participate in the academy will receive both college and high school credits, in addition to experience that will be invaluable to the likes of Northridge-based MiniMed or Thousand Oaks-based Amgen, Carleo said.

The two biotech companies are proving attractive destinations. MiniMed, which was acquired Wednesday by Medtronic, enjoyed strong sales growth from $99.5 million in 1997 to $294 million last year.

Amgen's revenue increased to $901.6 million in the first quarter from $697.6 million in the same period a year ago.

Biotechnology's influence on education is also taking shape at Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland Hills.

``We don't have an academy organized as of yet but that is one of the targeted areas we're looking at,'' said Carole Delgado, associate dean of academic affairs. ``We currently have strong biology and bio-science courses, and students even write back saying they have transferred to Berkley after taking these classes.''

Six years ago, Pierce formed a relationship with Amgen in which the company provided equipment and supplies for the school's biotech and molecular biology program, said Martin Ikkanda, a professor of biology.

``We have several students who are now working at Amgen that have come through Pierce,`` Ikkanda said. ``They get snapped up pretty quickly.''

As community colleges plan to create more classes geared toward biotechnology, the potential training these schools can offer prospective employees is promising.

``The community colleges possess the greatest premium in customized training,'' said Bruce Ackerman, president and chief executive officer of the Economic Alliance. ``The problem is some businesses don't know they have this kind of customized training.''