WHP Wins Design Contract for UK’s First Dedicated Vaccines Manufacturing Innovation Center

Engineering company, WHP, has revealed in a May 15, 2019 press release that it has been awarded with the design contract for the United Kingdom’s first dedicated vaccines manufacturing innovation center (VMIC).

The center will be used for the rapid manufacture of vaccines in the event of a pandemic occurring within the UK. Additionally, it will provide support in the form of rapid global responses to emerging, highly-infectious epidemic pathogens, such as Ebola and Zika, and will be used for the development of new technologies, including the manufacture of personalized cancer vaccines and vectors for gene therapy.

The contract won by WHP includes the design of an advanced array of laboratory and production facilities, which will be wrapped within a cleanroom environment. These works will form part of the plans for the specification of new cGMP suites and filling rooms for the VMIC being built in Oxford, UK.

WHP has already completed the Royal Institute of British Architects Plan of Work 2, which covers the conceptual design, and is employing 3D building information modeling to finalize other aspects of the facility design. All complex heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems will be developed in accordance with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency regulations.

“VMIC is another major contract success for us. It’s testament to the experience, competence, and added value that we bring to multi-million-pound projects across the sector,” said David Weir, lead designer on the VMIC project at Gateshead-based WHP. “Our process and cleanroom solutions, designed and built to the highest standards, balance health and safety, process demands, and energy efficient cleanliness; helping our clients to retain their lead in growing and highly competitive sectors.”

Funding for the center was secured from UK Research and Innovation, and development will be performed through the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund Medicines Manufacturing challenge. The center is scheduled to be open in 2022.

Source: WHP