Overview
This Certificate (Special Purpose Award) allows students to attain a knowledge and an understanding of the principles of Biopharmaceutical Processing and its underpinning science. The course predominately covers both cell culture and purification of biopharmaceuticals covering all unit operations, good manufacturing practices, validation and process analytical technology. The Certificate comprises of two modules namely, Biopharmaceutical Upstream and Downstream whereby the students gain significant theoretical knowledge through lectures and site visits. This Certificate upskills professionals from small to large molecule processing. It has an excellent reputation as a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) enabler.
This Special Purpose Award is designed to meet the education and training needs of scientists and engineers, to equip them with the knowledge and skills to operate effectively in the biopharmaceutical industry. The programme is delivered in one year, a module per semester, 6.30pm – 9.30pm, one evening per week. Each module comprises of weekly lectures and biweekly practicals. Practicals are delivered both at MTU and at the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research & Training (NIBRT) in Dublin.
On successful completion of the Biopharmaceutical Upstream Processing module you will be able to:
- Evaluate the significance of biotechnology as a method for the production of pharmaceutically active substances.
- Examine the key aspects of bioreactor design and contrast the various types of reactors including application, operation and limitations.
- Evaluate options for media design, control and feeding regimes of cell culture systems.
- Compare and contrast the key aspects of mammalian and microbial cell culture systems and their ability to express biopharmaceutical products.
- Conduct, write and critically evaluate biopharmaceutical upstream based practicals.
On successful completion of the Biopharmaceutical Downstream Processing module you will be able to:
- Explain the properties of proteins that are exploited in their separation and purification.
- Elaborate on the theoretical principles of a range of capture, concentration and purification unit operations, including any limitations in their use.
- Justify the key quality/purity requirements for Biopharmaceuticals products.
- Evaluate the issues associated with the scale up of downstream unit operations and apply appropriate problem solving approaches.
- Conduct and critically report on a range of practical experiments on downstream processing unit operations.
Testimonials are available in Course Brochure above.
Course Delivery
The programme is delivered in one year, a module per semester, 6.30pm – 9.30pm, one evening per week (typically a Tuesday evening). Each module comprises of weekly lectures and biweekly practicals. Practicals are delivered both at MTU Bishopstown Campus and at the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research & Training (NIBRT) in Dublin.
Award
Special Purposed Award - Certificate in Biopharmaceutical Processing (Level 7, 10 ECTs, on the National Framework of Qualifications).