This unique professional training course delivered in collaboration with the multinational company Covance has been designed to train future leaders in the biopharmaceutical industry. The course is 20 months in duration covering campus-based taught modules in the first six months, followed by a 12-month guaranteed paid placement in industry. You can expect to earn approximately £20,000 over the duration of your placement. This course will provide you with an integrated understanding of the full biological drug development pathway and the regulatory framework. We are focusing mainly on large molecule drugs: monoclonal antibodies like Herceptin, bio-similars and antibody-drug conjugates; gene therapies and the technologies that underpin the discovery and development pathway. You will be taught by leading industrialists and internationally renowned academics working at the forefront of their fields in the areas of science that underpin drug development. You will access cutting edge practical technologies and gain hands-on practical training in protein purification, characterisation, formulation and assessment of binding function. In addition you will use cell-based assays to look at drug potency, all performed in a strict regulated environment to prepare you for working in this regulated industry. Many pharmaceutical companies are expanding their biopharmaceutical capability, which is creating demand, and thus opportunities, for talented, well-trained people. At the same time, these companies report difficulties in recruiting employees with relevant skill sets and those with broad industrial experience are greatly sought after. To address this skills gap, the University of Leeds and Covance have formed this partnership to train the next generation of scientists for the biopharmaceutical industry.