VCU is the only university in the country with a doctoral program for pharmaceutical engineering, a fact that positioned it as a natural workforce pipeline for Eli Lilly.

"Partnering with the school of engineering and the school of pharmacy and thinking about how do we create a workforce that's needed to support companies like Lilly is part and partial why we partnered together," Kelechi Ogbonna, the dean of VCU's School of Pharmacy, said.

Both Ogbonna and Frank Gupton, the chair of VCU's Chemical Engineering Department, have been instrumental in developing programs that align with pharmaceutical industry needs.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin highlighted this unique educational advantage during the investment announcement.

"In collaboration with our community colleges to develop a manufacturing d

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