Cell and gene therapy workforce training expands in Korea

Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies has signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korea’s KBIOHealth to strengthen training capabilities in cell and gene therapy (CGT) manufacturing, supporting the development of a skilled workforce in this rapidly expanding field.

The collaboration will focus on structured training programmes covering key CGT workflows, including mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) and CAR T-cell manufacturing. Training will be built around Terumo BCT’s automated systems, including the Quantum Flex™ Cell Expansion System and Finia™ Fill and Finish platform.

KBIOHealth, a public biomedical innovation foundation in South Korea, is expanding its role as a regional hub for advanced biomanufacturing training. Its planned training centre will combine hands-on instruction with virtual reality-based learning, covering GMP-compliant cell therapy production, quality control, and bioprocessing techniques.

The partnership comes amid growing demand across Asia for skilled CGT manufacturing professionals, as clinical pipelines expand and approved therapies increase, while workforce capacity remains a key constraint.

“Myung-soo Lee, Chairman of KBIOHealth, said: ‘Our goal is to create a foundation for the global advanced regenerative medicine field and produce tangible results through collaboration with Terumo BCT. We plan to continuously expand various global programs to lead the development of the global biohealth industry and foster specialised human resources in the advanced regenerative medicine field.’”

By combining industry expertise with structured education programmes, the collaboration aims to support standardisation in manufacturing processes and strengthen the regional advanced regenerative medicine ecosystem.

“Veerle d’Haenens, General Manager, Global Therapy Innovations at Terumo BCT, said: ‘This MOU reflects both the growth in our long-standing collaboration with KBIOHealth and the work being done to grow the highly skilled workforce necessary for the success of cell- and tissue-based therapies in Korea and globally.’”

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