Biopharmaceutical Analysis and Cell Culture

This Certificate programme is also an elective module of the Postgraduate Diploma/MSc in Analytical Science with Quality Management. Certificate in Biopharmaceutical Analysis and Cell Culture. Applications can be made through www.pac.ie

Why was this course developed?

The Certificate in Biopharmaceutical Analysis and Cell Culture will provide students with an in-depth knowledge and skills in biopharmaceutical production, analysis and cell culture-related topics. Students will be exposed to a set of technologies that provide state-of–the-art tools for genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, drug discovery, screening and the analysis of biomolecules, such as DNA, proteins and small metabolites (biopharmaceuticals).

This course was developed to provide the student with an in-depth knowledge of and the skills used in biopharmaceutical production, analysis and cell culture-related topics. Students will be exposed to a set of technologies that provide state-of-the-art tools for genomics, proteomics, screening and the analysis of recombinant proteins and monoclonal antibodies. In addition, an overview of emerging cell and gene therapies, including genome editing, will be provided. The course will also introduce different techniques to analyse biopharmaceuticals, including immunoassays and next-generation bioarrays and bioassays. The practical aspects of the course will cover up/downstream biopharmaceutical purification and analysis techniques, and essential cell culture skills. 

The course will also train the student to critically evaluate approaches for method development and quality monitoring in biopharmaceutical production and to identify future trends in the biopharmaceutical industry. In summary, this course will furnish the student with a competency required to undertake mammalian cell culture projects, the ability to select the best techniques needed to analyse different biopharmaceuticals, and a qualification that is particularly relevant to the rapidly growing biopharmaceutical sector. 

What are the learning outcomes?

On successful completion of this module, a student will be able to:

• Evaluate the principles of biopharmaceutical analysis and cell culture.

• Critically evaluate the different techniques (traditional and modern) used in biopharmaceutical analysis and cell culture.

• Ascertain and optimise suitable practical techniques for biopharmaceutical analysis from troubleshooting to successful experimental outcomes.

• Competently devise the appropriate medium and growing conditions for different mammalian cells and perform routine maintenance and troubleshooting of the cells.

• Critically evaluate and revise approaches for method developments and future trends in the area of biopharmaceutical analysis and cell culture through scientific literature.