North East launch for world leading RNA Training Academy
A new RNA training academy has been launched in Darlington help protect the world against future pandemics and infectious diseases.
Dr Jen Vanderhoven
The training academy has been launched by The National Horizons Centre, Teesside University's £22.3m centre of excellence for the global biosciences and healthcare sector, in conjunction with, CPI, a technology innovation organisation in the North East.
RNA technology – the critical technology that has enabled the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, has significant impact beyond COVID-19. RNA vaccines and medicines carry instructions that tell the body to produce a specific tool that can be used to fight infectious disease. It is very versatile and can be adapted to treat HIV, cancer, and even heart disease.
To prepare for global demand for this exciting emerging technology and to drive the crucial life science skills needed to support this emerging industry, a new National Training Academy for RNA Therapeutics and Vaccines Manufacture has been formed.
Led in partnership between National Horizons Centre and CPI, a series of courses to upskill technicians and scientists in the development and manufacture of RNA will be available from January 2022.
Dr Jen Vanderhoven, Director at the National Horizons Centre, said: “Together with our partners, we pride ourselves on discovering diseases earlier, developing novel treatments and delivering life-saving medicines quicker, safer and more affordably.
“With specialisms in disease-specific research, biomanufacturing and digital analytics and machine learning, we work in an agile way to advance biosciences and healthcare research.
“We care about the future of the industry, which is why we train the workforce in cutting edge technologies, aligning closely with our partners to address the technical and digital skills needs of the sector.”
The new courses will complement the already substantial training offering available at the National Horizons Centre in advanced therapies, vaccine manufacturing and bioprocessing.
Dr Vanderhoven added: “With research, partnerships, and training at our core, the NHC brings together industry, academia, talent and world-class facilities to create real-world impact.
“The global pandemic has shown the vital role that our sector plays, and it is important that we remain agile and responsive to ensure the UK remains a global life sciences leader.
“We are delighted to partner on this world leading collaboration, deepening our strategic partnership with CPI, to ensure the UK bioindustry has the future skilled workforce it needs.”
Dr Lucy Foley, Director of Biologics at CPI, said: “The agility of RNA technology makes it a real game changer for therapeutics. Having established itself as a breakthrough technology during the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to be prepared with the skills and facilities to support this emerging RNA industry.
“Both the RNA Centre of Excellence and Training Academy will support the development of new licensed RNA products for the treatment of many different diseases. This is fantastic news for the biopharmaceutical industry, and for human health.”
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Business and Industry) and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for COVID Vaccine Deployment), Nadhim Zahawi, said: “This is another excellent example of the UK leading the way to harness some of the best scientific and medical minds in the world to develop life-saving treatments and vaccines.
“Alongside our fantastic COVID-19 vaccination programme - which has prevented more than 105,000 deaths and 24 million infections - medicines such as therapeutics are playing a fundamental role in helping return life to normal and keeping people safe.”
In the News
Training centre will lead game-changer research
Darlington and Stockton Times, Print, 03/09/2021
A training centre specialising in the technology used to create the Pfizer and Moderna coronavirus vaccines is being launched in Darlington later this year.
North East ''centre of excellence'' will boost vaccine manufacture and development
ITV.com, Web, 31/08/2021
A new centre of excellence and training facility specialising in the technology used to create the Pfizer and Moderna coronavirus vaccines is being launched in the UK.
Darlington to home new centre of excellence to boost vaccine manufacturing and development in UK
Gazette Live, Web, 31/08/2021
Darlington will be home to a new centre of excellence and training facility specialising in the technology used to create the Pfizer and Moderna coronavirus vaccines.
Centre to lead 'game changing' research
Northern Echo, 12, Print and Web, 31/08/2021
The new national training academy will be led in partnership between CPI and the National Horizons Centre, and will offer courses in the development and manufacture of RNA.
Hub to improve technology behind Covid-19 vaccines
i (The paper for today), 12, Print and Web, 31/08/2021
A new RNA training academy has been launched in Darlington help protect the world against future pandemics and infectious diseases.
Top vaccine centre in UK
Daily Express, 10, Print, 31/08/2021
Government and industry to provide a dedicated defence against future pandemics, led by CPI and Teesside University's National Horizons Centre.
New centre of excellence specialising in technology used to create Covid jabs to open in North East
Newcastle Evening Chronicle, Web, 31/08/2021
A new centre of excellence and training facility specialising in the technology used to create the Pfizer and Moderna coronavirus vaccines is being launched in the UK.
New facility at Darlington CPI to lead "game changing" Covid vaccine research
Darlington and Stockton Times, Web, 31/08/2021
A training facility specialising in the technology used to create the Pfizer and Moderna coronavirus vaccines is being launched in the North East later this year.
CPI launches RNA Centre of Excellence and training academy
European Pharmaceutical Review, Web, 31/08/2021
The UK’s Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) have announced the launch of an RNA Centre of Excellence and training academy to support the development, scale-up and manufacture of novel and new RNA therapies and vaccines.
World-leading RNA training academy launches in UK
Health Tech World, Web, 31/08/2021
A new centre of excellence has been created to boost the UK’s capability to exploit further potential of the ‘game changing’ technology used in COVID-19 vaccines.
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