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MSCA-ITN-2020: Consortium is looking for additional industrial partners to host a PhD student for 18 months internship in the area of ATMP (Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products)/Digital Twin

Country of Origin: Germany
Reference Number: RDDE20191118001
Publication Date: 18 November 2019

Summary

A German university is coordinator of a proposal for MSCA-ITN training network with the overall aim to exploit the power of model-assisted strategies (Digital Twins) for the development of next generation ATMPs (Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products). Sought are companies with expertise in development of ATMPs, preferred in the anti-tumour immune therapy, to join consortium and host a PhD student for EU-funded 18 months internship.

Description

Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP) based on gene therapy, cell therapy or tissue-engineering have a vast potential to provide novel breakthroughs in meeting therapeutic needs. They offer multiple advantages such as a decentralized approach for the development and manufacturing of more targeted (personalized and precision) health therapies at an affordable cost. 



The overall aim of the intended innovative training network (ITN) is to ensure the competition of the European biopharmaceutical industrial sector in the field of next generation medicines, as ATMPs using todays and tomorrows digitalization capabilities as captured in Digital Twins. Therefore, the intended project wants to shape young researchers to gain solid scientific experience in cross-sectoral fields (medicine, life science, engineering), while simultaneously developing domain based process digitalization skills in industry and business. A tailored integrated program  will be established to provide a generation of highly skilled scientists and engineers co-trained by industry and world-leading research institutions, capable of developing fundamental understanding and technologies in the field and its implementation in the European market.



Early stage researchers (ESR) are enrolled in the new doctoral program and jointly supervised by the academic and non-academic partners. Within the project, PhD students work on bioprocess engineering, cell biology, modelling and simulation as well as data handling. Each PhD candidate will crucially gain cross-sectoral experience in an individual research project, with the main working period (36 months) of the ESR equally split into an academic and an industrial part of 18 months to be completed in two different countries.



Scientifically, the project will tackle the fundamental challenge of providing improved manufacturing processes by applying new computational tools known as multi faceted Digital Twin as “Process Development and Manufacturing Platform” (PDMP) for ATMPs. It will enable full integration of all the process steps, regulatory requirements and business process workflows involved in leap frogging new therapies to market in shorter times. The PDMP will be uniquely characterized by the use of current enablers of digitalization and Internet of Things (IoT) in the combination of process models and workflows, which assist in setting up and following up quality systems within a novel software architecture.



The consortium is composed of University Research teams and industrial partners with expertise on medical aspects of immune cell therapy, development of production processes for advanced therapies, model-assisted design of bioprocesses, development of data science methods for integrated and efficient bioprocess development along PAT (Process Analytical Technology) and QbD (Quality by Design) principles.



To complete the consortium, sought are additional industrial partners that are experienced in the development of ATMPs, preferred in anti-tumour immune therapy. Companies must be located in EU or eligible H2020 country. Within the project the industrial partners are expected to host a PhD student for 18 months and to participate in a training event. All costs for internship will be covered by the H2020 project.



For the proposal industrial partners are expected to contribute with

- A company profile.

- Description of experience with ATMPs and (if applicable) with mentoring of PhD students.

- Outline of a research project that the PhD candidate shall perform during internship at the company (to be defined before submission together with the research partner involved).



English is the spoken language within the project.



Expression of interest deadline: 15th of December 2019.

Call deadline: 14th of January 2020.

Consortium is planned to be finally composed by 20th of December 2019.

The project is applied for to start in autumn 2020.

Advantages and Innovations

Industrial partners can



- Benefit from EU-funded 18 months internship of highly promising PhD candidates within the companies’ R&D department



- Get involved in cutting-edge R&D in the area of ATMP/Digital Twin



- Cooperate with a consortium of highly qualified research and industrial partners



- Work with a very experienced coordinator of EU-projects

Expertise sought

Experience in the development of ATMPs, preferred in anti-tumor immune therapy. Experience with mentoring of PhD candidates would be beneficial but is not obligatory.

Requested partner

Type:

Sought are pharmaceutical companies (SMEs or corporates) experienced in the development of ATMPs, preferred in anti-tumour immune therapy. Experience with mentoring of PhD candidates would be beneficial but are not obligatory. Companies must be located in EU or eligible H2020 country.



Role:

The company is expected to host a PhD student for at least 18 months and to participate in a training event. All costs for internship will be covered by the H2020 project.