The UK needs to train a new generation of engineers who can manufacture protein-based drugs cheaply and at scale, or many potent new medicines will never reach patients. The problem is twofold. First, the bioprocess industry that makes these "macromolecular" drugs—complex proteins that treat chronic diseases like arthritis, cancer, and autoimmune disorders—faces immense pressure to cut costs and waste. Worldwide revenues hit roughly £110 billion in 2009, but manufacturing methods have not kept pace with scientific discovery. Second, there is a widely acknowledged shortage of researchers with the specific training needed to redesign how these drugs are produced. This Centre for Doctoral Training will embed PhD students within the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Emergent Macromolecular Therapies, linking them directly to research-led companies. If successful, it will produce a cohort of bioprocess engineering leaders who can translate new scientific advances into safely manufactured, more selective therapies for currently intractable conditions—at affordable costs. The impact is not on a patient's bedside tomorrow, but on the industrial infrastructure that determines whether a promising drug ever becomes a widely available treatment.
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The focus of the proposed EPSRC CDT will be on manufacturing research and training required in the most rapidly developing parts of the UK bio-centred pharmaceutical and healthcare biotechnology sector, that have major implications for future medicine. The bioprocess industry manufactures novel macromolecular drugs, proteins, to address a broad range of chronic and debilitating human diseases. The UK holds a leading position by virtue of its science base and has unique university capabilities underpinning the sector. Whilst revenues are large, ~£110bn in 2009 on a worldwide basis, there are huge pressures on the industry for change if demands for cost reduction and waste minimisation are to be met, and populations are to benefit from the potent drugs becoming available. A sea change in manufacturing will be needed over the next decade if the potential of modern drugs are to make their way through to widespread distribution. Moreover this is a widely accepted skills shortage of individuals with the manufacturing research training needed for the sector. Alignment to the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Emergent Macromolecular Therapies will deliver increased national capability through training of the next generation of highly skilled and talented bioprocess manufacturing researchers. Our aim is to train bioprocess engineering leaders of the future who will underpin translation of new scientific advances into safely produced, more selective, therapies for currently intractable conditions at affordable costs. To achieve this we will embed CDT PhDs within the vibrant research community of the top UK Institutions and that of the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Emergent Macromolecular Therapies, to ensure that they benefit in terms of impact and knowledge transfer from the links to research led companies. The gearing in of these collaborations will enable the CDT to explore new and emerging ideas in a training environment that draws on research excellence and to create strong synergy between the Centre research programmes.
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