Waters, Ireland’s NIBRT Partner on Training and Research to Advance Burgeoning Biopharma Industry

The Irish National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) and Waters® Corporation announced today they have formed a multi-level partnership designed to support advanced concepts and deliver the promise of more effective biotherapeutic innovations addressing the world’s most challenging diseases through both training and research.

Waters and NIBRT have established the Complete Product and Processing Characterization Facility (CPPCF) for hands-on laboratory based scientific training and retraining of ‘fit-for-purpose’ biopharmaceutical analysis, including protein and peptide characterization. The CPPCF’s goal is to provide comprehensive training of industry and governmental technicians and scientists to help the burgeoning industry develop advanced biotherapeutic characterization The new facility will also educate scientists on existing and upcoming U.S. and European drug regulations.

Furthermore, the partnership establishes NIBRT as a Waters Center of Innovation in the area of glycobiology research. Prof. Pauline Rudd, NIBRT’s principal investigator, and her team will be working with Waters mass spectrometry based systems to take challenging glycan characterization to the next level. By improving understanding of glycan chemical and molecular structure, scientists can better understand safety and efficacy profiles for a potential molecule, leading directly to novel biotherapeutic options.

Officiating the opening ceremonies for the two new laboratories, Mr. Seán Sherlock TD, Minister for Research and Innovation, Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation commented, “The combination of Pauline Rudd’s expertise in glycan analysis and Waters technology for analysis of complex biological samples provides a unique combination of capabilities that can help underpin Ireland’s continued reputation as a centre of excellence for the very highest quality standards in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. I’m truly delighted to announce this collaboration as it will surely assist both NIBRT and Waters in further cementing their reputation as providers of choice for the biopharmaceutical industry and Ireland’s reputation as a world leading location for biotech manufacturing."

Biopharmaceuticals are increasingly important to patients and drug manufacturers. By 2014, it is expected that 50% of the top 100 prescribed medications will be biopharmaceuticals, including four of the top five selling drugs.

NIBRT was created by the Irish government to underpin the biopharmaceutical industry. One key area that NIBRT will focus on is research into improved product analytics to assist the industry in maintaining exacting quality standards. A second key area is bioanalytical training in the most modern and advanced analytical methods.