BIOTECH 7007 - Biotechnology in Practice

Students will identify new product opportunities which are applicable to the University, in particular their School, with an emphasis on biomedical consumables. The students, as part of a group, will form a virtual company, and develop a product development plan, including a production schedule, projected costings as well as good laboratory practice (GLP), quality assurance (QA), & quality control (QC) procedures. The successful product development plan will be implemented as part of the course objectives. This course will enable students to develop skills relevant to the biotechnology industry by enhancing their understanding of the processes involved in the commercialisation of scientific research. The steps involved in taking a product from the research laboratory to the market will be illustrated by case studies, focusing on intellectual property rights and infringement (freedom to operate), regulatory requirements and market competition, as well as practical experience in developing a commercially acceptable product. Course participants include staff from a number of University departments, intellectual property lawyers, and contributors from industry and government bodies.