Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing Provides Hands-on Training on Vaccine Manufacturing in Collaboration with WHO

- Second year of the WHO collaborative training following 2024

- 35 participants from 20 low- and middle-income countries to undergo a four-week hands-on training in cell-based vaccine manufacturing (Aug. 28-Sep. 26)

The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW, Minister Jeong Eun Kyeong) announced that beginning Thursday, August 28, it will conduct the Hands-on Training on Cell-based Vaccine and Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Processes at the Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing, in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Vaccine Institute (IVI). The program is designed to strengthen the vaccine manufacturing capabilities of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) through practical training.

* Korea was officially designated by WHO as the Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing in February 2022.

This marks the second year of the global hands-on training program launched in partnership with the WHO in 2024. It has expanded beyond earlier continent-specific programs supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and now operates as a truly global initiative open to participants worldwide.

For this year’s session, 164 individuals from 30 countries applied. Following the selection process jointly conducted by the MOHW and the WHO, 35 participants (including 15 on the waitlist) from 20 countries were chosen. Most are professionals currently working at public or private vaccine and biopharmaceutical organizations and are expected to become key personnel in their home countries.

[Selected Participants by Country for Cell-Based Upstream Vaccine Manufacturing Training]

Algeria (1) Ethiopia (2) Mexico (1) South Sudan (1) Belarus (1) Ghana (1) Nigeria (1) Uzbekistan (3) Brazil (1) Kazakhstan (4) Pakistan (3) Thailand (1) Colombia (2) Kenya (3) South Africa (1) Vietnam (1) Egypt (2) Malaysia (1) Tanzania (3) Zimbabwe (2)

The training curriculum covers both theoretical and practical modules spanning the entire cell-based vaccine and biopharmaceutical manufacturing process. Topics include Quality by Design (QbD) in vaccine development, process control, pharmaceutical quality systems, aseptic processing, data integrity, and biosafety.

Notably, trainees from LMICs, where access to advanced technologies and hands-on experience is often limited, will gain practical training in drafting standard operating procedures (SOPs) and performing other essential tasks within Korea’s Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-compliant industrial environment. This ensures that participants can immediately apply their newly acquired skills upon returning to their home countries.

This year’s program is led by the MOHW, operated by the Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing Support Foundation (GTHB-SF), and implemented by the IVI. Core practical sessions will take place at the GMP-certified facilities of the Andong K-BIO CMO Center, where trainees will gain firsthand experience in production environments that meet international standards.

* Andong K-BIO CMO Center: Equipped with GMP-compliant facilities based on animal cell culture, the center provides contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) services for vaccines and biopharmaceuticals, produces clinical and non-clinical samples, and runs workforce development programs for specialized talent.

Including this session, the MOHW will operate a total of four global hands-on training programs in 2025. In November, sessions will cover mRNA vaccine manufacturing processes at the Yonsei University K-NIBRT Education Center; antibody drug manufacturing at the Seoul National University Siheung Campus and the Osong K-BIO Training Center; and GMP practice for biopharmaceuticals at the Hwasun Biopharmaceutical Research Center.

Jung Eun-young, Director General of Health Industry Policy at the MOHW, stated, “This hands-on training program is a key component of the Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing, jointly operated with the WHO. Through practical training using advanced equipment in real GMP settings, we aim to substantially enhance vaccine self-sufficiency in participating countries.”

She added, “This year, we further strengthened the practical curriculum to ensure trainees acquire skills that can be immediately applied in their home countries. We will continue expanding the training programs offered by the Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing, fulfilling Korea’s role as a responsible global leader in the biohealth sector and deepening international cooperation to enhance health capacity in LMICs.” ///