On Friday the 9th of June 2023, the first cohort of students of the Chan Soon-Shiong Family Foundation (CSSFF)-SAMRC Studentship Programme received their certificate after completing the introductory training course in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. The CSSFF-SAMRC capacity development programme aims to grow the next generation of biopharmaceutical manufacturing professionals, researchers, and technical experts needed to establish an industry in (South) Africa.
This programme is geared towards enhancing Africa’s health and biotechnology human capital, with the selected candidates being those who have graduated with a degree in health sciences, life sciences, chemistry, chemical engineering, pharmacy and allied science degrees that are relevant for the health and biotechnology sector.
Dr Richard Gordon – Director for International Business Development, said that the onset of the global pandemic highlighted global supply issues around vaccines, drugs and medical devices etc, which were acutely felt in Africa, particularly around vaccines. “It became clear that we needed to catalyse the vaccine manufacturing industry in Africa, and a key part of doing this included generating the workforce. After consultation and deliberation with interested vaccine manufacturing companies as to the skills required in the industry, our trainers were sent overseas to develop a curriculum that could be used to train these young scientists”, said Dr Gordon.
The lab-based training programme covered both laboratory and soft skills required in biopharmaceutical manufacturing and will extend through to key processes involved in up- and down-stream biopharmaceutical manufacturing. By utilising the expertise of the SAMRC particularly in the fields of molecular biology and biochemistry, the programme aims to take young scientists from academia and get them into industry.
Speaking ahead of the ceremony Patrick Soon-Shiong mentioned that this initiative is about giving back and to offer opportunities for young scientist towards bettering the country particularly in the vaccine manufacturing industry. He congratulated the scholars, saying “They are the beginning of the beginning, the tip of the spear and the future for building a self-independence of drug manufacture that will hopefully leapfrog the world in the biotechnology space.”
In conclusion Dr Gordon said, “we are excited by this programme, the 1st cohort of 15 students have just completed, we look forward to the 2nd cohort, which is due to begin shortly, and finally we are looking forward to the outputs that come from this great initiative.”
See moments from the Ceremony of completion | HERE