ISCT EU Scholarship Program

Scholarship applications open August 17, 2022
and will be accepted until October 31, 2022

Overview

The International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT) is proud to offer for the second time full tuition scholarships for 3 ISCT European Members to enroll in the 2023/2024 Master Degree or Specialization Degree in Manufacturing of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products, offered by the University of Granada/ Andalusian Network for the design and translation of Advanced Therapies (ANd&tAT)


The following scholarships will be awarded:

  •  Two (2) Scholarships for the Master Degree in Manufacturing of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products
  •  One (1) Scholarship for the Specialization Degree in Manufacturing of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products

 These scholarships are made possible in part by an educational grant from Miltenyi Biotec.


This pioneering Master’s programme is designed for professionals presently working (or intending to do so) in Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-compliant facilities producing cell therapy, gen therapy, or tissue engineered products for human use. More specifically, for technologists who will develop advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) in different laboratories and institutions (hospitals, academia, or industry) within Europe, such as:

  • Technical Directors or Qualified Persons of ATMP’s Pharmaceutical Laboratories
  • Manufacturing Managers of ATMP’s Pharmaceutical Laboratories
  • Quality Control Managers of ATMP’s Pharmaceutical Laboratories
  • Quality Assurance Expert of ATMP’s Pharmaceutical Laboratories

Note, this programme is quite unique in that it is not intended for biomedical students pursuing a PhD in regenerative medicine or related subjects.

While the program offers applications for individual modules, our scholarships are offered only to applicants who intend to pursue a full Master programme.

Successful scholars of the program will be given an opportunity to report on their experiences at the end of the degree, to share with ISCT membership in the Telegraft newsletter.

For more information on the 2022/2023 Master in Manufacturing of ATMPs at the University of Granada/ Andalusian Initiative for Advanced Therapies please visit the programme website.

The University-Specific Degrees Offered:

Both Degrees will include theoretical training composed of 12 sections that will be completed online by students at their convenience ad with the support from instructors through a dedicated e-learning platform.

  • Master Degree in Manufacturing of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (1,500 hours / 60 ECTS)
    • Provides participants with the knowledge, skills and hands-on technical expertise necessary to face the challenges of manufacturing ATMPs for clinical use. This innovative Master combines the general fundamentals of ATMP regulation with specific knowledge necessary to deal with the development of medicinal products of cell therapy, gene therapy, and tissue engineering.
    • The Master Degree also includes:
      • 3-week period of practical training at Línea IAVANTE’s (Fundación Progreso y Salud) headquarters in Granada, Spain. This will complement the acquired theoretical knowledge by making use of a fully equipped GMP facility specifically built for training purposes and dedicates expert tutors.
      • Supervised individual work to compile a GMP facility dossier (site master file) as final project (dissertation) of the Master Degree.
  • Specialization Degree in Manufacturing of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (970 hours / 38.8 ECTS)

Scholarship Application Instructions & Criteria

Scholarship Applications Now Open!

Eligible scholarship candidates must hold a current ISCT membership and reside in Europe, and will be required to submit an application subject to competitive selection by the ISCT Europe Regional Committee. 

Scholarship Application Deadline: October 31, 2022

Application Instructions

To apply, please submit the following (3) items:
(1) A 1-2 page letter of application (maximum 1,000 words, Arial, font size 10). The letter should provide the applicant’s background, training, interest/ experience in cell and gene therapy production, and career goals. Particular attention and weighting will be placed on the applicant’s reasons for attending the programme.
(2) A current curriculum vitae (CV), preferably in the NIH Biographical Sketch format.
(3) A 1 page letter of recommendation.

Applicant selection will be based on criteria including, but not limited to:
(1) Applicant must reside in Europe, hold a current ISCT membership, and maintain their ISCT membership throughout the duration of the Master/ Specialization programme
(2) Applicant must satisfy the requirements/ student profile as outlined in Section 2 of the Master Programme 2023/2024 brochure.
(3) Applicant training, productivity and experience as indicated in the curriculum vitae, letter of application and letter of recommendation.
(4) Commitment to a career in ATMP manufacturing as outlined in the letter of application.
(5) All other considerations being equal, regional representation.

Successful applicants must submit CV, Passport, and University Degree Certificate to the University of Granada/ Andalusian Network for the design and translation of Advanced Therapies as a condition of acceptance.

E-mail Applications and Attachments to Meagan Pasternak (meagan@isctglobal.org)
Subject: ISCT Scholarship Program for EU Members Application

2021/ 2022 Scholars

Congratulations to the awardees of the inaugural ISCT Europe Master Programme Scholarship on their completion of the 2021/2022 Master in Manufacturing of ATMPs at the University of Granada/ Andalusian Network for the design and translation of Advanced Therapies.

Headshot of Alejandro Barquero

Alejandro Barquero

MPharm, MSc

Specialization as Qualified Person

Member Profile

Alejandro Barquero, MPharm, MSc
Advent Bioservices Ltd
Sawston, United Kingdom

Specialization as Qualified Person

Alejandro Barquero holds a Master of Pharmacy and an MSc in Advanced Therapies & Biotechnological Innovation. After working in the community pharmacy and research laboratories, he decided to step into the blooming ATMP industry, having a first rewarding experience working in QC for Catapult Cell & Gene Therapy. In 2019 Alejandro joined Advent Bioservices Ltd, biopharmaceutical CDMO specialized in ATMPs, where he has been working as part of the Quality Assurance team ever since.

At the time of completing this Master Degree programme with a specialization as Qualified Person, Alejandro looks forward to being in the position to meet the statutory requirements to assume a QP role within his organization and help in the development and commercialization of ATMPs.

Headshot of Miriam López-Parra

Miriam López-Parra

MD

Specialization as Qualified Person

Member Profile

Miriam López-Parra, MD
University Hospital of Salamanca
Salamanca, Spain

Specialization as Qualified Person

Miriam López Parra is a Hematologist and Qualified Person of the GMP Facility of the University Hospital of Salamanca, and researcher at the Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca. Miriam is sure this Master will allow her to tackle one of the most important challenges she will have in the coming years, which is the development of a new Cellular Production Unit in her Hospital.

Headshot of Katja Sirviö

Katja Sirviö

MSc (Pharm)

Specialization as Manufacturing Manager

Member Profile

Katja Sirviö, MSc (Pharm)
Kuopio Center for Gene and Cell Therapy
Kuopio, Finland

Specialization as Manufacturing Manager

Katja Sirviö has 20 years experience working in academic and ATMP industry. She has experience on stem cell research in neurodegenerative diseases at the University of Eastern Finland as well as developing novel cell therapies for solid cancers in Finvector and Kuopio Center for Gene and Cell Therapy.

The Master in Manufacturing of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products will provide the essential knowledge for Katja to participate in bringing future therapies to the patients.

Key Organizations

This degree program is operated by a partnership of two organizations, the Andalusian Network for the design and translation of Advanced Therapies (ANd&tAT), and the University of Granada, in collaboration with Línea IAVANTE.

ANd&tAT is an organization affiliated with the Public Healthcare System of Andalusia, and works towards the implementation of cell and gene technologies and theories, including regenerative medicine treatments, within Andalusian public healthcare. ANd&tAT has done significant work to coordinate laboratories, clinical trials, and ATMP use in the region, and offers related training as well as strategic and consultation-based support.

The University of Granada is an institution that dates back to 1531, and which serves over 80,000 students across its programmes. Well-respected for the quality of its teaching and research, the university is focused on integrated cooperation and development in society.

Línea IAVANTE is an organization affiliated with the Ministry of Health within the Regional Government of Andalusia. Working to facilitate and promote the development and training of health professionals, IAVANTE deploys physical and virtual reality-based simulations that faithfully replicate healthcare environments, including ATMP manufacturing. 

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