Wilmington College and Hikma Pharmaceuticals in Columbus are already reaping mutually beneficial results from a newly-established partnership. The College has received gifts of used laboratory equipment and the expectation of future student internships, while Hikma believes the relationship opens a pipeline that ultimately will provide it with qualified employees who will enjoy successful careers with the global pharmaceuticals leader.

Lila Kincaid Myers is a member of WC’s Class of 2018 (chemistry major) and the daughter of Dr. Russell Kincaid, professor of mathematics and physics. Her employment at Hikma opened the doors that sparked the partnership between the company and the College.

The company donated density meters and various lab consumables that this year assisted the College in establishing its Cell Culture Laboratory. This new lab was assembled by WC’s Dr. Oladapo Fagbohun, associate professor of biology, and two of his students. Fagbohun possesses a robust knowledge of natural product and medicinal chemistry, toxicology, cell biology and pharmacology. His research focuses on the development of novel therapies with minimal side effects associated with diseases of humankind.

The Cell Culture Lab features advanced equipment, including incubators, an ultra-low temperature freezer, weighing balances and viscometers, much of which Hikma provided. The company shared its plan to gift the College one of its old atomic absorption spectrophotometers.

Russell Kincaid noted, “These sophisticated tools are crucial for conducting cutting-edge research and experiments, allowing students to gain practical experience with industry-standard technology.” He expressed his enthusiasm for the evolving partnership. “This collaboration will not only enhance our scientific resources but will also provide our students with unique opportunities to engage with the industry and gain practical experiences that will be invaluable in their future careers.”

WC‘s science students gained insight into the industry leader this spring when Hikma hosted a facility tour at its Quality Control Laboratories in Columbus. “The tour offered our students a firsthand peep into the professional environment they may one day work in,” Kincaid added. Fostering student internships is the next step in the College’s relationship with Hikma, a worldwide leader in pharmaceuticals with 29 manufacturing plants, eight research and development centers and more than 9,000 employees.

President Corey Cockerill said the new partnership marks a “significant milestone” for the institution. “It exemplifies the College’s commitment to providing high-quality education and underscores the importance of industry partnerships in advancing scientific research and education.”

Hikam’s director of quality control in genetics, Kimberlee Johnson, said such endeavors as with Wilmington College serve to create a pipeline of new graduates for hire. “Hikma is a great place to work for new grads.”