Water-neutral and zero-waste oligonucleotides manufacturing for a sustainable pharmaceutical industry - PhD

Oligonucleotides are a novel class of therapeutic molecules currently under widespread development across the pharmaceutical industry due to their potential for treating large groups of rare and common diseases. The manufacturing of these innovative molecules is expected to expand rapidly across the pharmaceutical sector in the next few years with production sites pushed to achieve tonnes/year capacity. Inefficiencies in the current synthesis, purification and isolation pose substantial challenges to the environmental sustainability of their manufacture and a significant cost and waste burden. Large resource footprints imply a considerable production of wastewater and final residues with associated costs for treatment and disposal (typically through incineration) with substantial carbon, energy and water penalties associated.

The global pharmaceutical manufacturer GSK has commitments to become water-neutral in operations and a zero-waste manufacturer. By sponsoring this project, GSK wants to explore opportunities to achieve sustainable management of resources in the production cycle for oligonucleotides by minimising water demand and maximising recovery of resources and values from residues but without compromising on the high-quality standards and the safety of these therapeutic products.

Achieving sustainable manufacturing of oligonucleotides will depend upon the ability of the selected separation/transformation technologies to recover water and resources, the value of the recovered materials and the complex cost/benefit and regulatory landscape of the pharmaceutical industry.

The PhD project will explore how the value of resources (water and materials) changes along the manufacturing steps of oligonucleotides as well as the potential for their recovery in the wastewater and waste streams generated. The project will aim to establish how value can be sustainably recovered during the manufacturing of oligonucleotides and how the sustainability of the oligonucleotides production can be enhanced to move towards a water-neutral and zero-waste industry.

This PhD research project will deliver the first study on water and resource recovery from the manufacturing process of oligonucleotides and will establish a framework for the selection of separation/purification technologies to achieve sustainable conditions in pharmaceutical production sites. 

The research will deliver knowledge to strengthen the resilience of the water supply for the pharmaceutical industry to enhance the security of drug manufacturing at reduced costs and increase sustainability to protect the health of the society, the environment and the natural resources around the manufacturing sites. This PhD project will not only define the development of technological solutions but also inform the pathway for its implementation.

The project is an exciting collaboration between 扣扣传媒 and GSK - Medicines Research Centre. The PhD project will define the scientific principles to unlock the recovery of value (e.g., water and resources) during the manufacturing steps of oligonucleotides and will identify the possibilities for the pharmaceutical industry to implement water-neutral and zero-waste strategies on its production sites. 

The successful applicant will make use of research facilities at 扣扣传媒 for the experimental activities and will develop techno-economic analyses to rank the selected technologies and define the requirements for implementation.

Additionally, as part of the CDT WIRe, students will benefit from an enhanced stipend of £24,000 per annum, undertake an international placement, and complete a bespoke training programme within a cohort of up to 15 students.

Moreover, the CDT WIRe programme supports the PhD students for periods of secondment into the sponsor’s organisation and encourages all the opportunities for the personal and professional development of the PhD student to ensure the maximum value and opportunities for the career development of the candidate.

At the end of the project, the successful applicant will be very well positioned to have a highly successful career in the pharmaceutical and engineering sectors or an academic role. We will help you develop into a dynamic, confident and highly competent researcher with wider transferable skills (communication, project management and leadership) with an international network of colleagues.