The National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) has officially unveiled a new advanced therapies facility.
This expansion will increase NIBRT’s capacity and capability to conduct manufacturing-focused research and training in advanced therapeutics.
Advanced therapeutics is a broad category of innovative biological medicines that includes cell therapies, gene therapies, mRNA and DNA-based therapies and other novel biologic-based medicines and vaccines.
25 new researchers and training staff
The new facility will accommodate about 25 new researchers and training staff and will serve new and existing NIBRT clients by providing research solutions to manufacturing challenges and training in the production of these highly innovative and complex medicines.
This €21m project is supported by the government through IDA Ireland and incorporates 1,800 m2 of new space, including seven research laboratories and state of the art training suites, into the existing NIBRT facility that will be dedicated to advanced therapeutics. The facility also houses a €6.5m SFI/IDA co-funded research facility called CONCEPT, which is dedicated to the early-stage development of biologic therapies.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said: “This new advanced therapeutics manufacturing research and training facility, funded by the government, will further Ireland’s reputation as a global leader in biopharma manufacturing. It is important to continuously invest in this evolving area so that Ireland’s biopharma sector, with its highly skilled workforce, remains attractive to investors in this complex and innovative area of life saving medicines.”
NIBRT CEO Darrin Morrissey said: “The role of NIBRT is to help the growth and development of the biopharma manufacturing sector in Ireland by providing cutting edge training and research solutions. NIBRT intends to further enhance our current capability by becoming a leader in the pioneering and fast-evolving area of advanced therapies and vaccines.
"It is an immensely exciting time for NIBRT. With this expansion, we expect to deliver training for many more potential and newly hired biopharma staff, as well as considerable growth in our research activities. This has the potential to rapidly enhance Ireland’s standing as a location of choice for advanced therapy and vaccine manufacturing.”
The Irish biopharma industry continues to go from strength-to-strength, with more than 20 new biologics manufacturing facilities developed across Ireland over the last decade and in excess of €12bn in capital investment over that time.
High-value biopharma roles
More than 45,000 people are now employed directly in the biopharma industry, and this represents a doubling of employment in high-expertise and high-value biopharma roles since 2014.
Advanced therapeutics, also known as Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs), treat diseases at molecular level and represent a potential step-change in the personalisation of treatment and in the treatment outcomes.
For example, cell therapy is a medical approach that aims to introduce new, healthy cells into a patient’s body to replace diseased or missing ones. While gene therapy treats or prevents disease by correcting the underlying genetic problem that causes the disease.
Delivering these treatments to patients has the potential to offer tremendous therapeutic benefits, in some cases even a cure, in previously intractable illnesses like cancer, diabetes and neurological conditions. However, the manufacture of these highly sophisticated therapies is highly complex and producing them in a cost-effective and safe way presents unique challenges.
More information on NIBRT’s advanced therapeutic-related services and programmes can be located here.