Advanced PharmaTech Academy launches its first professional upskilling workshop

Naples, 2 October 2026 – The National Center is pleased to announce the launch of the first professional upskilling workshop offered through the Advanced PharmaTech Academy, supported by funding secured under the Ministry of University and Research’s National Programme for Research, Innovation and Competitiveness for the Green and Digital Transition (PN RIC) 2021–2027.

Building on the experience of the PharmaTech Academy, the Advanced PharmaTech Academy is designed to provide professionals working in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors with opportunities to return to an academic environment and update the knowledge and skills needed to keep pace with rapidly evolving technologies, production processes and regulatory requirements.

The first workshop, “GMP, Quality and Technologies Applied to Biotech Medicines,” will take place from 23 October to 20 November 2026. The 60-hour workshop takes an integrated approach to the development and production of biotech medicines, covering pharmaceutical development and Quality by Design, GMP and pharmaceutical quality systems, the formulation of parenteral and protein-based products, pharmaceutical freeze-drying, and the manufacturing of RNA-based medicines.

Five modules, from pharmaceutical development to RNA manufacturing

Delivered through five modules, the workshop combines academic knowledge with topics and practices directly relevant to modern pharmaceutical and biotechnology production.

Module 1 — Pharmaceutical development, investigational medicinal products, technology transfer, Quality by Design and Quality Risk Management
Instructed by: Giuseppe Colombo (AFI – Associazione farmaceutici industria), Marco Oreste Adami (AFI – Associazione farmaceutici industria)
23–24 October 2026 | 12 hours

The module introduces pharmaceutical development, investigational medicinal products (IMPs), technology transfer from R&D to manufacturing, Quality by Design (QbD), Quality Risk Management (QRM), Design of Experiments and process validation, supported by practical examples.

Module 2 — GMP and fundamental processes of the Pharmaceutical Quality System
Instructed by: Alessandro Regola (AFI – Associazione farmaceutici industria)
30–31 October 2026 | 12 hours

Participants will examine GMP as applied to APIs and medicinal products, with a focus on Quality Risk Management, GMP documentation and Data Integrity. Practical sessions and exercises will connect regulatory principles with their operational application.

Module 3 — Formulation of parenteral and protein-based medicines
Instructed by: Giuseppe De Rosa (University of Naples Federico II)
2–4 November 2026 | 8 hours

This module covers the formulation of parenteral biotech products, including proteins, peptides and nucleic acids, together with the biological and physicochemical requirements of these products and an introduction to freeze-drying as a strategy for stabilizing biotech medicines.

Module 4 — Pharmaceutical freeze-drying
Instructed by: Giuseppe Colombo(AFI – Associazione farmaceutici industria), Marco Oreste Adami (AFI – Associazione farmaceutici industria)
6–7 November 2026 | 12 hours

The module explores the formulation, processes and equipment involved in pharmaceutical freeze-drying, including scale-up, technology transfer, process troubleshooting, equipment mapping and the physical principles underlying the process.

Module 5 — The manufacturing of RNA medicines
Instructed by: Giuseppina Salzano (Thermo Fisher Scientific)
19–20 November 2026 | 16 hours

The final module focuses on the development and scale-up of manufacturing processes for RNA-based medicines in sterile GMP production environments. Topics include pre-formulation, freeze-drying at R&D and industrial scale, manufacturing equipment and processes, and case studies addressing challenges that can arise on GMP production lines.

A new model for lifelong learning in the life sciences

The Advanced PharmaTech Academy is part of the National Center’s wider effort to strengthen the skills and capabilities needed to support innovation in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors.

The initiative builds on the Academy’s established infrastructure, including PharmaTech-XR multimedia classrooms and immersive laboratories, to deliver advanced, flexible and customizable training programs addressing technical, scientific, digital, regulatory and entrepreneurial skills.

By bringing professionals back into an academic environment, the Academy creates a continuous exchange between scientific developments and the needs of the sector. The approach recognizes that, in a rapidly changing life-sciences landscape, professional development does not end when formal education is completed. Keeping skills current is an essential part of supporting innovation.

The Advanced PharmaTech Academy is delivered through a partnership between the National Center Foundation, the University of Naples Federico II, P.B.L. and Materias, and is designed as a scalable model for lifelong learning across the life sciences.

GMP, Quality and Technologies Applied to Biotech Medicines
23 October – 20 November 2026
60 hours | 5 modules | Dual-modality activities

Enrollment is subject to capacity limits.

The workshop will be held at:

PharmaTech Academy Via Valerio Verbano 29/31, Naples, 80145 Naples (NA)

Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II. Via Domenico Montesano, 49, 80131 Naples (NA)

Enrollment closes on 20 October