Supporting progress of cell and gene therapy industrialisation with new aseptic manufacturing course

With cell and gene therapies moving towards commercialisation and employment in this space predicted to reach over 6,000 jobs by 2024, this initiative aims to provide targeted training which will support this growth and address the accelerating demand for skills in the sector.

The bespoke course will offer training on aseptic advanced therapy manufacturing in line with industry standards.

London UK, 20 January 2020 - The Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult (CGT Catapult) and the University of Hertfordshire today announced the launch of a new course specifically addressing the foreseeable skills gap in the manufacture of cell and gene therapies as they progress towards manufacturing at scale. Developed in a collaboration between the two organisations, this three-day course will provide theoretical and practical training on the aseptic manufacturing of cell and gene therapies in line with European regulatory guidance for good manufacturing practice (GMP).

The cell and gene therapy industry in the UK currently supports over 3,000 jobs, a six-fold increase since 2012, and employment in the sector is set to more than double by 2024 as more therapies progress towards commercialisation. Manufacturing and bioprocessing roles in particular have tripled in the past two years alone, with scientists operating in the 26 cell and gene therapy manufacturing facilities throughout the UK. Cell and gene therapies are transformative and potentially curative medicines, and it is vital that manufacturing processes are safe and efficient whilst preserving the effectiveness of these living medicines.

The new training programme is designed for staff working in cell and gene therapy manufacturing. Delegates will benefit from experience in state-of-the-art facilities and will be awarded a University of Hertfordshire accredited certificate upon successful completion of the training, contingent on assessments of their knowledge, understanding and practical skills.

Dr Salman Rahman, Commercial Lead in the School of Life & Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire commented:

“Through our partnership with The Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult including consultation with leading biotech companies developing new cell and gene therapies, together we have created this bespoke course that provides comprehensive training for practitioners working in Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product manufacturing. Students on the course will be taught theoretical knowledge including principles and operational aspects necessary for aseptic manufacturing of cell and gene therapy products in line with European regulatory guidance, complimented by practical learning experiences in state-of-the-art clean room facilities.”

Keith Thompson, Chief Executive Officer, Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult stated:

“There is an accelerating demand for skills in the UK cell and gene therapy industry as employment, manufacturing space and the number of ongoing clinical trials increases year on year. We are delighted to collaborate with the University of Hertfordshire in developing this new initiative which will support professionals and apprentices working in the manufacturing of advanced therapies. By providing training on GMP quality standards which are vital to the manufacture of cell and gene therapies, we are furthering our mission to fuel the continuing growth of the industry.”

Further details on the training course can be found here.

About Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult:

The Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult was established as an independent centre of excellence to advance the growth of the UK cell and gene therapy industry, by bridging the gap between scientific research and full-scale commercialisation. With more than 200 employees focusing on cell and gene therapy technologies, it works with partners in academia and industry to ensure these life-changing therapies can be developed for use in health services throughout the world. It offers leading-edge capability, technology and innovation to enable companies to take products into clinical trials and provide clinical, process development, manufacturing, regulatory, health economics and market access expertise. Its aim is to make the UK the most compelling and logical choice for UK and international partners to develop and commercialise these advanced therapies. The Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult works with Innovate UK. For more information please visit ct.catapult.org.uk or visit http://www.gov.uk/innovate-uk.

About the University of Hertfordshire:

The University of Hertfordshire is a vibrant, inclusive, campus-based institution with a vision to be internationally renowned as the UK's leading business-facing university. It is innovative and enterprising and challenges individuals and organisations to excel.  All courses are underpinned by industry insight and powerful research ensuring our student community of over 24,600 graduates are equipped with the skills and attributes for successful professional lives. The University has excellent progression rates to employment – 96.5% of students are in employment or further study six months after graduating* - and its teaching expertise has recently been awarded the top gold ranking in the Government’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2018. It is one of the top 150 universities in the world under 50 years old, according to the Times Higher Education 150 under 50 rankings 2018. For more information visit: www.herts.ac.uk