Jennifer Vogel’s journey into the radiopharmaceutical industry is one of curiosity and passion, sparked by a unique opportunity at a Boston conference.
There, she heard from leading experts about Nucleus Radiopharma’s exciting innovations and mission-driven focus. That moment was pivotal for Jennifer. With a background in the pharmaceutical industry, she felt a natural alignment with Nucleus’ goals and kept a close eye on the company until the right opportunity came along.
Now, she plays a key role as our Production Manager at our new Rochester, MN, facility, navigating the challenges and rewards of working in a cutting-edge, fast-paced environment.
Managing radiopharma’s rapid pace: From R&D to full-scale production
A typical day for Jennifer is a mix of problem-solving, strategic planning, and hands-on work to prepare the facility for the highly specialized demands of radiopharmaceutical manufacturing.
As a site built specifically for manufacturing radiopharmaceuticals, our Rochester facility faces unique hurdles, from setting up production programs to ensuring that every aspect of the facility meets stringent regulatory and safety standards. Luckily, thanks to employees like Jennifer, we’re ready to take on the challenge.
Unlike traditional pharmaceuticals that can be stored for long periods, radiopharmaceuticals decay rapidly due to their radioactive nature, making timing and precision critical. Jennifer is keenly aware of these challenges and is helping the Rochester facility develop systems that address these issues head-on, ensuring that every step, from production to delivery, is carefully coordinated to avoid costly delays and waste.
Jennifer’s responsibilities are broad, encompassing everything from sourcing personal protective equipment (PPE) and ordering materials to defining process flows and managing training programs for new hires. Overseeing a growing team, she has quickly become the linchpin of day-to-day operations, helping the facility evolve to meet industry demands.
One of Jennifer’s current responsibilities is managing the tech transfer process for various clients. Moving from research and development (R&D) to commercial-scale production is a demanding process that can take months or even years to complete, depending on client needs and regulatory hurdles.
At the Rochester facility, the tech transfer process involves:
- Scaling up operations while adhering to good manufacturing practice (GMP) standards.
- Meeting stringent FDA guidelines.
- Ensuring the highest levels of safety as radioactivity levels increase during commercial production.
Jennifer collaborates closely with R&D, safety, quality, and purchasing teams to make sure the facility is prepared for these challenges, building a foundation for seamless integration of future clients’ needs.
A team powered by grit
In addition to managing the present, Jennifer has a clear vision for the future of the Rochester facility.
While the team currently focuses on small-batch clinical manufacturing, she sees enormous potential for scaling up to large-scale commercial production in the coming years. With the right automation and equipment in place, Jennifer believes the facility will operate 24/7, producing larger batches to meet the growing demand for radiopharmaceutical therapies.
Despite the challenges inherent in radiopharmaceutical manufacturing, Jennifer remains optimistic about the future. She highlights the remarkable progress the Rochester team has made in just 90 days—walls going up in production areas, new equipment arriving, and key processes already being implemented.
Jennifer attributes this success to the grit and determination of her small but mighty team. In her view, the speed at which the Rochester facility has progressed is a testament to the team’s ability to collaborate across departments and tackle the nuanced challenges of the radiopharmaceutical industry.
Shaping the next era of cancer therapy
As Nucleus continues to expand its capabilities as an end-to-end radiopharmaceutical CDMO, the team at our Rochester, MN facility will be instrumental in our clients’ success. Jennifer’s ability to foresee challenges and implement solutions ensures that Nucleus is well-positioned to bring life-saving therapies to market, even as the demands of the industry evolve.
With a clear vision for the future, Jennifer and her team are laying the groundwork for the Rochester facility as a key player in the radiopharmaceutical industry.
Want to join the Nucleus Radiopharma team? View our open positions. Or, are you wondering how our team could help your organization? Let’s talk.