Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face significant inequity in terms of access to vaccines and other biologics and are making efforts to establish biological manufacturing in their regions. Establishing such manufacturing capacity, through bilateral technology transfer or through local R&D efforts, is frequently hampered by the lack of a workforce trained in biomanufacturing.
To address this gap and to build biomanufacturing capacity in LMICs, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health and Welfare of the Republic of South Korea (MOHWK) are working towards establishing the first of its kind Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing (GTH-B).
The hub is mandated to provide training in manufacturing of high-quality vaccines and biologics in an industrial setting to resolve inequality in access to vaccines and biologics worldwide by expanding manufacturing capacity in LMICs.
In July 2022, a two-week introductory training programme on biomanufacturing was organized by the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) in Seoul, South Korea for more than 100 participants from 33 LMICs. To complement this course, the Republic of Korea in agreement with WHO is organizing a second course operated by IVI focusing on standards practices (GxP) in biomanufacturing in October 2022 for 200 participants from LMICs.
Monday, October 31 – Friday, November 18, 2022 (3 Weeks)
The purpose of this introductory course for standard practices is to equip participants representing the biomanufacturing workforce from LMICs with essential skills required to operate according to good biomanufacturing practices. This course will be conducted in-person over three weeks and will include didactic sessions on Good Laboratory Practice, Good Clinical Practice, Good Clinical Laboratory Practice, Good Manufacturing Practice, and biosafety. The course is targeting technicians, engineers or managers employed by an entity formally registered in LMICs and currently involved in the production of bioproducts including vaccines, therapeutics, monoclonal antibodies, etc.
However, due to the restricted number of attendees (200), priority will be given to 1) manufacturers identified as recipients of mRNA technology from the technology transfer initiative led by WHO and COVAX and 2) participants from LMICs.
Support awarded are not transferrable from one individual to another or from one session to another. Participants must be committed to return to their home institution after completion of the training. Participants will have to demonstrate in their application how the experience gained during the training programme will be applied upon return to their home organization.
At the end of the training, all participants will be equipped with the knowledge and skills required to operate in a biomanufacturing facility according to international standards. By investing in workforce development, the hub will support ongoing initiatives in local bioproduction and will strengthen knowledge sharing between manufacturers.
Applicants are required to have the following qualifications to be considered eligible for the course:
The online application form is available at the following link: https://ivionlinecampus.ivi.int/courses/
The following information must be provided:
All applications must be submitted online at https://ivionlinecampus.ivi.int/courses/ by 17 August 2022 17:00 (GMT)
The selection process includes the following steps:
Course is free of charge to participants. Accommodation and breakfast will be provided during the course days and over the weekends. Lunches will be provided during the course days only and will not be included in weekends.
The trip cost to/from Seoul, South Korea will NOT be provided. Applicants must secure the traveling costs at their own expense.
WHO is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity in science. Researchers are encouraged to apply irrespective of gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious, cultural and social backgrounds, or (dis)ability status.
For questions related to this, please contact gthb.coordinator@ivi.int.
The receipt of the applications will be automatically acknowledged via return email from gthb.coordinator@ivi.int. Applicants who do not receive an acknowledgement within the specified time should contact gthb.coordinator@ivi.int
An acknowledgement of the application receipt does not imply that the application is complete and eligible for review.