Call for Applications

Deadline: August 31, 2022 at 17:00 GMT

Background

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.

Proposed dates for the upcoming Introductory Training Course for Standard Practice (GxP)

Monday, October 31 – Friday, November 18, 2022 (3 Weeks)

Scope

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.

Expected impact

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.

Eligibility

Applicants are required to have the following qualifications to be considered eligible for the course:

• An education background in a life science field
• A position as a technician, engineer, scientist, or manager with up to 6 years of experience in biomanufacturing, or related experience
• Employed by a company registered as a legal entity in LMIC conducting activities in the scope of biomanufacturing
• National or a citizen of, and resident in a LMIC
• Have at least an intermediate level of spoken and written English language
• Demonstrate in the application how the skills and competencies acquired during the training will be applied after the training in the institution the participant is coming from
• Demonstrate in the application the relevance to professional project
• Demonstrate in the application the expectations, knowledge, skills and expectations from their own institution

Application procedure

The online application form is available at the following link: https://ivionlinecampus.ivi.int/courses/

The following information must be provided:

1. First and family name
2. Date of birth, gender, and other personal information
3. Copy of information page of passport
4. Name, address, telephone number and e-mail address of institution where the applicant is employed
5. Educational qualifications and level of English proficiency
6. A description of the applicant’s current post
7. A description of the applicant’s current work/ interests
8. A description of competencies and skills the applicant would like to acquire during the training.
9. A description of how the applicant, if selected, plans to apply the acquired skills and knowledge after returning to home country/institution.
10. An endorsement from the Director of the applicant’s institution testifying the ability of the applicant to successfully undertake the training proposed and certifying the applicant’s current employment. The Director also has to indicate how the proposed training will strengthen the institution’s capability, to develop bioproducts. (Endorsement letter sample is available at application website)

Deadline for submission of proposals

All applications must be submitted online at https://ivionlinecampus.ivi.int/courses/ by 17 August 2022 17:00 (GMT)

Selection process

The selection process includes the following steps:

• Eligible applications will be reviewed by the selection committee formed by members recommended by MoHW in South Korea and WHO.
• When the selection process is completed, the selected participant will be informed by e-mail, upon which following administrative arrangements will be made.

Financial provisions

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.

Gender

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 further information

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.