• RIGHT Foundation and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) jointly support the ADB-RIGHT Vaccine Manufacturing Training Program.
• A total of 41 vaccine and biopharmaceutical professionals from 18 low- and middle-income countries are participating in the program.
• Participants will strengthen their vaccine manufacturing capacity through hands-on training in mRNA vaccine production and site visits to biotechnology companies and research institutes in Korea.
The opening ceremony for the ADB-RIGHT Vaccine Manufacturing Training Program, jointly supported by the RIGHT Foundation and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), was held on Monday, July 13, at the Biopharma Research Center on Yonsei University’s International Campus.
The program is designed to strengthen vaccine and biopharmaceutical production capacity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and, by establishing a sustainable manufacturing base, to contribute to advancing global health equity.
The ceremony was attended by approximately 70 participants, including representatives from the Foundation, ADB, Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing Support Foundation(GTH-B), and Yonsei University’s K-NIBRT, as well as international trainees.
The training is intended for 41 professionals working in vaccine and biopharmaceutical production across 18 LMICs: Ghana, Nigeria, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Benin, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Argentina, Ethiopia, Uzbekistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tunisia, Pakistan, Peru, and the Philippines.
From May 1 to 29, the participants successfully completed four weeks of foundational theoretical training in biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing processes. Following the opening ceremony, they will begin a five-week intensive hands-on training program, which will run through August 14.
Following its support for the first hands-on training program for biomanufacturing professionals in 2024, the Foundation has expanded both the number of participating countries and the scope of support this year through its partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The training is delivered by Yonsei University’s K-NIBRT. It is also part of Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing (GTH-B) launched by the Government of the Republic of Korea and the World Health Organization (WHO) to strengthen biomanufacturing capacity in LMICs.
Participants will receive hands-on training across four core modules-Fermentation, Purification, Finalization and Bio-analysis. They will also visit leading biotechnology companies and research institutes in Korea to gain insights into the country’s biopharmaceutical industry and strengthen the practical competencies required for vaccine manufacturing.
During the training program, a forum on “Building Regional Vaccine Manufacturing Ecosystems” will also be held. The forum will discuss ways to connect demand, investment, technology transfer, and workforce development across the vaccine manufacturing sector and establish a sustainable framework for global cooperation in vaccine manufacturing.
The opening ceremony began with congratulatory and encouraging remarks from key participants. As joint supporters of the program, the Foundation and ADB delivered encouragement speeches, emphasizing the importance of skilled professionals and encouraging the trainees to apply and share what they learn in their home institutions.
The ceremony continued with an introduction to the training schedule and faculty, followed by a Gowning Ceremony symbolizing the first step in hands-on vaccine manufacturing training.
Minwon Lee, Executive Director of RIGHT Foundation, said, “Strong manufacturing capacity and a skilled workforce are essential to ensuring life-saving health technologies reach the people who need them most. We hope this program will help strengthen sustainable vaccine manufacturing capacity in low- and middle-income countries.”