Courses

Develop the essential skills required for each step of the translational pathway of cell and gene therapy products, from discovery and vector design through to clinical trials and market authorisation. The course includes a 20-week hands-on project.

IHfGT bursaries available for 2024 intake: The Innovation Hubs for Gene Therapies Network is offering a pair of bursaries worth £6,200 each for home fee-paying students starting an MSc in Advanced Cell and Gene Therapies in 2024.

Rapid developments in the stem cell and gene therapy field have created skills shortages in this high-value manufacturing sector. This innovative and industrially-relevant MSc, which is co-developed and co-delivered by industry experts, provides key skills, practical training and expertise to develop future generations of engineers, scientists and business professionals with the breadth and depth required to manufacture and deliver 21st century medicines.

Cell and Gene Therapy is fast becoming an established field that aims to utilize the power of cell-based medicines to deliver new therapies for the 21st Century. However, translating the discovery science into manufacturable products has so far been challenging and so multi-disciplinary engineers who possess unique skills are urgently needed to address the manufacture of these complex medicinal products.

This course addresses the real-world challenges of translating discoveries to the clinic in a way that is commercially viable. A series of lectures and interactive case studies will enable you to:

• Understand the distinctions of manufacturing cells compared with biologics
• Understand the challenges faced in advancing cell and gene therapies to clinic and the lessons learned from established companies
• Understand the impact of design and engineering considerations on cell and gene therapy manufacture
• Identify and define critical process parameters for different cell and gene therapy applications
• Knowledge and application of analytical toolsets for quality measurement
• Understand key implications to facilitate and expedite translation from laboratory to a manufacturing and clinical setting

NHS Blood and Transplant are offering a limited number of free places on an LCS accredited ½ day CI Foundation course, delivered by an experienced CI facilitator, to introduce key concepts in continuous improvement (CI) and aimed at NHS staff or UK academic researchers working in cell & gene therapy. This course will provide an introduction to CI concepts and tools through the introduction of 5 Lean Principles, how to recognise waste, and the elements of a ‘Lean Cell’. The course will cover the following topics:

• Human Factors
• 6S principles
• Kanban Inventory Management
• Kamishibai for audit readiness
• Error Logging
• Problem Solving

You should apply if you:

• Work in the field of cell & gene therapy
• Work in the NHS or a UK academic organisation
• Can commit to attend the whole end to end programme*

Example attendees: scientific/technical laboratory or pharmacy aseptic professionals, quality control/assurance specialists, PhD students or postdoctoral researchers.

This series of digital learning materials created by NHSBT provides an introduction to a range of topics relating to the manufacture of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs).

Module 1: Production of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products

Module 2: Raw Materials in Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products

Module 3: Video series: Production of Viral Vectors

For any questions or feedback regarding the training material, please email cmt(at)nhsbt.nhs.uk.

*Please note these materials are hosted on the NHS Learning Hub, which is free to access for anyone with an NHS or ac.uk email address. Further info on eligibility can be found here.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) offer a 30 credit standalone CPD module in Management of Clinical Services. The module aims to develop critical evaluation with respect to service provision enhancement through the application of leadership and management theory and understanding of regulation and quality enhancement, with the aim of improving organisational value. This is a level 7 standalone module that can also be part of the MSc course in Applied Transfusion and Transplantation delivered in collaboration between NHSBT and University of West England UWE.

This course is taught via distance learning with a combination of online materials, live webinars and group tutorials.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) and the Innovation Hubs for Gene Therapies have two bursaries to support individuals working or studying in the Advanced Therapies sector. Bursaries cover 50% of the module fee to access the 30 credit standalone CPD module in Management of Clinical Services.

To apply for the bursary, you are required to complete the bursary application form and submit it to pd(at)uwe.ac.uk with the heading ‘Innovation Hubs Bursary 2024’. The deadline to submit applications is Friday 12 July 2024. 

Please note that applications to the bursaries are separate from the application to the CPD module itself.