TU Dublin Develops VR Training Programme for BioPharmaChem Skillnet
BioPharmaChem Skillnet has launched a Virtual Reality Training programme in Aseptic Techniques for Biomanufacturing. .
The programme was developed in collaboration with Dr Brian Vaughan, Founder/Director, Virtual Interaction Research Lab (VIRal) at Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin). VIRal is a cutting edge virtual and augmented reality research and development environment in a large, dedicated space.
"As the BioPharmaChem sector begins to embrace immersive technologies, we identified the potential for Virtual Reality to address some of the known key challenges in aseptic processes that are high risk and time-consuming in the training of BioPharma Technicians. VIRal at TU Dublin provided the expertise required to transform the concept of a VR programme into a reality. Dr Brian Vaughan and the team in TU Dublin ensured that the process ran seamlessly and was able to advise, adapt and reinvent when required. The programme wouldn't have been possible without their expertise and the support of Skillnet Ireland, BioPharmaChem Ireland along with the expertise and time that industry members gave to articulate the needs around this training for the sector," said Susan Costello, Network Manager - BioPharmaChem Skillnet.
Keynote Speaker Alex Gibson, Assistant Head of the School of Marketing in TU Dublin, will discuss Virtual Reality for Training: Implementing Immersive Training. Alex is the ARVR Innovate conference founder and regularly contributes to national and international industry and academic conferences in augmented and virtual reality.
'Covid 19 has imposed budget and safety constraints in training across many sectors, including the Bio, Pharma and Chemical sectors. Consequently, immersive technologies such as AR and VR have seen accelerated adoption, and in my keynote presentation, I will share some of the best examples of this. With immersive technologies allowing training to be delivered more effectively and efficiently than traditional face-to-face or e-learning platforms, I expect to see massive interest in the deployment of these technologies in the coming years,' said Alex Gibson.
David Gardiner, Licensing Executive for TU Dublin Hothouse and co-founder of VIRal, will moderate the Virtual Reality Training programme launch. Other notable speakers include Paul Healy, Chief Executive of Skillnet Ireland; Matt Moran, Director of BioPharmaChem Ireland and Brendan Kellett, Project Coordinator, BioPharmaChem Skillnet. Michelle McKinney, Quality Training Specialist, AbbVie and Maria Przybylo, Operations Trainer, Sanofi, will provide their company's user experience, and Dr Brian Vaughan of VIRal will demonstrate how the programme works.