Core Skills for Biomanufacturing

COURSE

Course description

For specific course questions, please contact michellebraun@uvic.ca. The program combines live online instruction, guided independent learning activities, and a one-day hands-on laboratory intensive at CASTL's Richmond, BC facility, where learners gain direct experience with industry-standard equipment and biomanufacturing techniques.

The Core Skills for Biomanufacturing (CSB) micro-credential is an industry-aligned training program that prepares learners for careers in Canada's growing biopharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturing sector. Designed in collaboration with industry experts and delivered in partnership with the Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL), the program provides foundational knowledge and practical skills required for entry-level roles in biomanufacturing, quality control, and related life sciences industries.

Over six weeks, learners gain an overview of the end-to-end biopharmaceutical manufacturing processes, from cell culture and upstream bioprocessing through downstream purification, quality control, regulatory requirements, and final product release. Through a combination of online instruction and hands-on learning, participants develop foundational knowledge and practical skills relevant to regulated biopharmaceutical manufacturing environments.

Key topics include:

  • Bioprocessing fundamentals and biopharmaceutical manufacturing workflows
  • Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), quality systems, and regulatory compliance
  • Cell culture principles, aseptic technique, and contamination control
  • Bioreactor design, operation, monitoring, and critical process parameters
  • Harvest, filtration, centrifugation, and chromatography-based purification methods
  • Quality Control (QC) testing, including bioburden, endotoxin, sterility, identity, and purity assessments
  • Analytical techniques commonly used in the industry, such as HPLC, immunoassays, and flow cytometry
  • Documentation practices, problem-solving, teamwork, and communication in regulated manufacturing environments

 

Learning objectives

Upon successful completion, learners will be able to:

  • Describe the end-to-end biopharmaceutical manufacturing process from cell culture to final product release.
  • Apply Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) principles and good documentation practices in a regulated manufacturing context.
  • Explain upstream bioprocessing including cell culture fundamentals, bioreactor design, and critical process parameters.
  • Describe midstream harvest and downstream purification operations including centrifugation, filtration, and chromatography.
  • Demonstrate hands-on proficiency in core biomanufacturing techniques including aseptic technique, bioreactor operation, and QC assays during the CASTL lab intensive.
  • Perform and interpret quality control tests including bioburden, endotoxin, sterility, identity, and purity testing.
  • Apply analytical QC techniques including HPLC principles, immunoassay, and flow cytometry in a biopharmaceutical context.
  • Evaluate regulatory and quality systems requirements relevant to biopharmaceutical manufacturing in Canada.
  • Analyze and resolve a simulated biomanufacturing process challenge using structured problem-solving and team communication.

Registration details

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Info you should know:

Continuing Studies statement on use of educational technology

This course will require the use of Zoom and may use other education technology such as internet-based applications, cloud services, or social media. In order to complete this course you will be required to either consent to the disclosure of your personal information outside of Canada to enable use of these technologies, or work with the Division of Continuing Studies to explore other privacy protective options (such as using an alias or nickname).