Course overview
Biopharmaceutical engineering is one the most promising areas of development from both the scientific and technology viewpoints. This is because this discipline develops at the intersection of physics, chemistry, biology and engineering. It is expected that biopharmaceutical products play a major role in facilitating therapeutic strategies for the treatment of some of the most important diseases and conditions of the 21st century such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and various types of cancer. Moreover, thanks to developments in this area, novel diagnostic and medical devices are available to the general public. Some of the emerging research areas within this field include the discovery and production of novel pharmacological molecules, more effective gene therapies, pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine. This course explores the routes for the implementation of some of these developments going from the lab to the full clinical translation.
The general objective of this course is therefore to provide a conceptual and fundamental framework to comprehensively understand each component of a biopharmaceutical development such that students can consider new value propositions to address the upcoming healthcare and industry challenges.
Course learning outcomes
- Acquire the skills to search for material about emerging medical technologies using scientific and patent search engines, and regulatory authority sites.
- Be able to evaluate and debate evidence on the benefits and risk associated with new medical technologies.
- Have the skills to design manufacturing processes for diverse medical products such as gene therapy, cell therapy, and combined gene and cell therapy products like CAR-T.
- Acquire the skill sets for independent self-education so the candidate can source relevant material, appraise and devise manufacturing processes for emerging medical technologies.
- Gain knowledge of the diversity of technologies for delivery of mRNA, plasmid DNA, siRNA or similar therapeutic agent.
- Have the skills to design liquid formulations of therapeutic proteins products.
- Gain oral presentation skills with practiced performance, good quality slides, and informed content.