Yonsei University's K-NIBRT Project Division Holds Orientation Ceremony for 'ADB-RIGHT Vaccine Manufacturing Training Program'

Specialized training for 41 vaccine industry workers from 18 low- and middle-income countries to advance global health equity

ADB-Right Foundation Trainees Group Photo

Yonsei University's K-NIBRT held an orientation ceremony for the 'ADB-RIGHT Vaccine Manufacturing Training Program' on July 13 at the Pharma-Bio Convergence Research Center on Yonsei's International Campus, marking the launch of hands-on vaccine manufacturing training for international trainees.

The ceremony was attended by approximately 70 people, including representatives from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Research Investment for Global Health Technology (RIGHT) Foundation, the GTH-B Foundation, Yonsei University's K-NIBRT, and the international trainees.

The program is an international vaccine manufacturing capacity-building training course jointly supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the RIGHT Foundation. The RIGHT Foundation ran its first training for biomanufacturing personnel in 2024, and this year expanded the program's scope in partnership with ADB. K-NIBRT, which operates the training under commission, has been running specialized training programs to cultivate vaccine manufacturing professionals for international trainees since 2022.

This training brings together 41 professionals working in vaccine and biopharmaceutical production from 18 low- and middle-income countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Malaysia, and Bangladesh. From May 1 to May 29, the trainees completed four weeks of online theoretical training on biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing processes. Starting with this orientation ceremony, they will now take part in five weeks of hands-on practical training running through August 14.

The hands-on training will make use of the infrastructure at the K-NIBRT Education Centre. Trainees will practice across the four core areas of mRNA vaccine production — cell culture, purification, fill/finish, and analytical testing — to build a comprehensive understanding of the manufacturing process and practical hands-on capabilities.

The training program is designed to strengthen vaccine and biopharmaceutical production capacity in low- and middle-income countries and support the development of sustainable manufacturing infrastructure. K-NIBRT also plans to build an international cooperation framework linking demand, investment, technology transfer, and workforce development in the field of vaccine manufacturing.

At the orientation ceremony, Kim Jae-gyun, Health Specialist at the Asian Development Bank, said, "While vaccine manufacturing facilities and equipment are important, cultivating the skilled professionals to operate them is paramount." He added, "We hope this program will contribute to strengthening vaccine manufacturing capacity in participating countries and enhancing regional health security."

Lee Min-won, CEO of the RIGHT Foundation, said, "Manufacturing capacity and skilled workforce development are key factors in advancing global health equity." She added, "We hope this training will help strengthen sustainable vaccine manufacturing capacity in low- and middle-income countries."

Director Han Gyoonhee said, "This program is a training course designed to cultivate vaccine manufacturing professionals for low- and middle-income countries." He added, "We will run the training so that trainees gain practical skills they can apply in the field and contribute to strengthening their home countries' vaccine manufacturing foundations."

K-NIBRT plans to continue operating training programs aimed at strengthening vaccine manufacturing capacity in developing countries, in ongoing partnership with international organizations and overseas institutions.

This training is conducted with support from the Asian Development Bank's Korea e-Asia and Knowledge Partnership Fund.

Source: https://www.emoneynews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=129009