Bridging the Biologics Gap in Thailand
Pictured: the participants of the National Biologics Training Program in Thailand touring the Thai National Biopharmaceutical Facility in 2018.
The National Biologics Training Program - born out of The University of Queensland - has set up an international collaboration with Thailand's Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences (TCELS) to provide its biopharmaceutical researchers with professional development training to strengthen capabilities in Biologics R&D, advanced biomanufacturing and global regulation.
The Program launched in May 2018, after securing funding from the second round of the MTPConnect Project Fund Program. Led by University of Queensland Professor Stephen Mahler with the aid of consortium collaborators - Abbvie Australia, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Acyte Biotech, CSL, Patheon Biologics, Luina Bio - the training course is filling gaps in the required knowledge and skills base necessary for Thailand to advance in this sector.
Stephen said the collaboration with TCELS, which is funded by the country's Ministry of Science and Technology, has provided his team with confidence to expand the program globally.
Operations Manager of the National Biologics Facility in Queensland, Dr Martina Jones, who recently presented at a workshop in Thailand, said this collaboration provided a great opportunity to support the continuing professional development of biopharmaceutical researchers in Thailand.
"The course content we delivered will assist Thai researchers in their goal to develop biosimilar manufacturing capability in Thailandâ. Dr Jones explained.
"I believe the delivery of the course was successful, even though the audience participants were mainly non-English speaking.
"So the team feels well suited to branch out into other countries and meet the global demand for training in this industry."
The team prepared online resources for more than 100 participants across two days and 20 lucky participants accessed an additional biologics workshop at the Sunaree University of Technology in Thailand. Since the delivery of that program in 2018, the team has been contracted to deliver the course again late in 2019 in Thailand.
Through this important collaboration, the program has gained international recognition, and is now extending support to develop Thailand's SMEs. The National Biologics Training Program has seen significant outcomes from this partnership that will have far-reaching impacts and benefits across both Australia, Thailand and beyond.
For more information and to get involved in the initiative, visit the National Biologics Training Program.