WHO is pleased to announce the successful completion of the 5th annual Virtual cGMP Training Marathon on Strengthening Vaccine Manufacturing, with this year’s theme: “Institutionalizing Compliance and Continued Improvement”. This event was organized by WHO’s Local Production & Assistance (LPA) Unit, led by Dr. Jicui Dong, Unit Head of the LPA Unit. The marathon brought together over 1,550 professionals, on average, from close to 90 countries, reinforcing global efforts to institutionalize compliance and foster continuous quality improvement in vaccine production.
Building on success: A focus on continuous improvement
This year’s marathon, held from 10 September to 10 October 2024, built on the successes of previous editions by further enhancing capacity to sustain Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) compliance and fostering a culture of continuous quality improvement in vaccine manufacturing. Notably, the 5th marathon delivered previous and new GMP topics to achieve this such as quality risk management, bio-analytical method development, process validation, technology transfer granularities, CAPA investigation management and maintaining compliant utilities. Hundreds of questions from participants during the marathon were received, demonstrating the desire to deepen their understanding of GMP principles and apply them in real-world settings for continuous improvement in vaccine production. This marathon continues to strengthen capacities of vaccine and biopharmaceutical manufacturers, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), enabling them to consistently produce safe, effective, and quality-assured vaccines that meet international standards.
The 5th Virtual cGMP Training Marathon is one of many WHO capacity-building programs under WHO’s Biomanufacturing Workforce Training Initiative. This initiative focuses on enhancing bioproduction capabilities in LMICs through accessible, tailored training programs that align with WHO and international standards. WHO’s capacity-building programs, one of the three pillars of this initiative, have been instrumental in providing innovative, needs-based technical assistance to manufacturers and Member States.
Participant feedback
The training marathon received overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants, highlighting its role in advancing their understanding of vaccine manufacturing:
Deputy Director of GMP Inspection from a national regulatory agency in the African Region remarked: "The LPA unit of the WHO has been at the forefront of building competencies through these series of Marathon GMP Training. To my mind, there appears to be no equivalent anywhere in terms of content, applicability, delivery, and scope, especially for those of us in LMICs. It’s a worthy and profitable venture. I would love the training to continue, as it has strongly prepared me for a greater role in GMP inspection of vaccines and biologics, serving as both objective evidence and testament to the WHO’s commitment. Kudos to the Local Production Unit, and kudos to WHO!"
Quality Assurance Officer from a biopharmaceutical manufacturer in the Southeast Asia Region expressed: "I’m incredibly grateful for this invaluable training experience. The knowledge and insights I’ve gained have greatly enhanced my understanding of cGMP principles in biopharmaceuticals, which will be essential in improving the quality and safety of my work. Thank you to the organizers and all the experts for making this journey so enriching and impactful."
Regulatory Compliance Specialist from a vaccine manufacturer in the Western Pacific Region conveyed: Everyone involved in this marathon program is putting in their best effort to ensure its smooth progress, and I truly appreciate all the hard work. Great job, everyone!
Looking ahead: Continued support for vaccine manufacturing
As WHO and its partners remain focused on strengthening local vaccine production, the Virtual cGMP Training Marathon continues to be a crucial global program for enhancing production capacity and advancing health security. Through this flagship global training programme, WHO continues its commitment to strengthening the capacities of vaccine and biopharmaceutical manufacturers worldwide to consistently deliver safe, effective, and high-quality vaccines that comply with international standards. WHO's LPA Unit will also maintain its technical support and capacity-building efforts to ensure that all regions, particularly LMICs, are equipped to produce quality-assured vaccines that meet both national and global demands.
Stay connected for updates on the 6th edition of the Virtual cGMP Training Marathon, as well as other exciting training opportunities coming in 2025.
For further information and inquiries about LPA's activities, interventions and initiatives, please visit the LPA website and contact localproduction@who.int.
The 2024 Virtual cGMP Training Marathon was financially supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the European Union, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.