Bangalore, India, January 10, 2014  

Biocon Academy, a one-of-its-kind Centre of Excellence for Advanced Learning in Applied Bio-Sciences, today announced the commencement of its flagship program – the 'Biocon KGI Certificate Program in Biosciences' – in collaboration with Keck Graduate Institute in Claremont, California.

The 16-week, full-time Biocon KGI certificate program will be delivered by renowned faculty from KGI and Biocon Academy. The program’s broad-based international curriculum encompasses R&D, Production as per GMP, Quality Assurance, Regulatory, Product Development and Professional skills, which will enhance the career prospects for fresh biotech graduates as well experienced biotechnologists.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairperson and Managing Director, Biocon, said, "I would like to extend a warm welcome to our first batch of students for the Biocon KGI Certificate program. This program will provide a unique opportunity for life sciences students to take advantage of the world class advanced learning and training program that straddles both theory and project-based learning. I am very pleased to see the quality of the students who have enrolled for this program. Biocon Academy aims to address the skill deficit and develop high-end talent that catapults the Indian biopharma sector to the next level of growth."

Sheldon M. Schuster, President, Keck Graduate Institute, said, “KGI is known for developing innovative, highly focused educational programs for those interested in pursuing a career in the life sciences. Built on the KGI graduate-level curriculum, the Biocon Academy-KGI certificate in bioscience is a next-generation offering for students who want to develop the skills they need to work in a complex, global, highly regulated industry. For potential employers, such as Biocon, the creation of this program means having a wider pool of life science professionals who are ready to contribute to their goals on day one.”

First Batch Commences
The academy received over 150 applications from all across India for the first batch of the ‘Biocon KGI Certificate Program in Biosciences’ after admissions opened on Nov. 11, 2013. Following a rigorous selection process, 30 students were chosen to be a part of the inaugural batch.

The first batch includes a good mix of both bioscientists with experience as well as fresh engineering and science graduates.  

One of the candidates, a biotech graduate hailing from Haridwar, Uttarakhand, says she opted for Biocon Academy to learn about the practical application of biotech tools and to equip herself for realizing her dream of becoming a bio-entrepreneur.

Another candidate, who has six years of work experience and has worked with a pharma company in the UK, says she is joining the course because of its association with Biocon. Her aim is to attain the perfect combination of theoretical and practical knowledge through this program.

Biocon Academy is an initiative to develop high end talent for the biotech sector by Biocon, Asia's leading biotechnology enterprise.  KGI is a premier American graduate institution, devoted solely to bioscience education and discovery.

International Faculty
The first batch of 30 students will undergo real time classes with KGI faculty and will be mentored by
subject matter experts at Biocon. Some of the faculty members are:

Meghana Joshi, Program Director and Faculty for the Biocon-KGI Certificate Program in Biosciences, has a PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a strong foundation in Biopharmaceutical Business Development.

Susan Bain, Professor KGI, has  an extensive background in Regulatory Affairs, Quality Assurance, Compliance and Operations, with more than 25 years of managerial experience in the industry as well as at the FDA.  Her doctorate is in regulatory science from the University of Southern California (USC).

Michael Jamieson, Adjunct professor KGI, has an international reputation for developing innovative regulatory solutions in the biotech sector, with 25 years in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.  He has a doctorate in regulatory science from USC and has been faculty for the USC School of Pharmacy.

Anastasia Levitin, Assistant Professor KGI, has an undergraduate degree in biochemistry,  a PhD in biology from Concordia University, Montreal, Canada, and postdoctoral work at the national Research Council of Canada and Stanford University School of Medicine.

Eddie Crabbe, Adjunct Professor KGI, has over 12 years of experience in aerobic and anaerobic fermentation process development for recombinant protein and bioenergy production, technology transfer, and manufacturing support. Currently, Eddie works at Allergan in Irvine, California as a Senior Scientist in Biologics Development Process Sciences.

About the Biocon KGI Certificate Program in Biosciences:

This 16-week, full-time program will leverage the industry leadership strengths of Biocon and the academic vigour of KGI to benefit participants and make them readily employable.

Those with a BE/B.Tech in Biotechnology / Industrial Biotechnology; MSc. in Biotechnology / Microbiology / Biochemistry / Biology; and B. Pharm with a CGPA of 7.5 (71 percentage) and above are eligible to apply for the course.  

The program has three key components; Technical Course modules, Professional skills module and industrial expert mentorship module.

We strongly believe that this program will bring about a transformation in students by training them in Molecular Biotechnology; Pharmaceutical Development; Biopharmaceutical Quality Assurance & Control; CMC Regulations of Pharmaceuticals; Introduction to US FDA & European Laws and Regulations; Fermentation Principles; Mammalian Cell Biotechnology; Bioseparation Engineering & Science and the Professional Skills Development.

In addition to technical sessions and classroom assignments from KGI, students will get hands-on experience at various facilities of Biocon. While focusing on the technical skill development, the course will also provide an opportunity for students to hone their professional skills through dedicated training.

About KGI
Founded in 1997, Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) is located in Southern California and is a member of the Claremont University Consortium. It is the only American graduate institution dedicated solely to bioscience education and discovery and is recognized worldwide for its pioneering Professional Science Master’s program. The Institute is dedicated to education and research aimed at translating into practice, for the benefit of society, the power and potential of the life sciences. Visit www.kgi.edu

About Biocon
Established in 1978, Biocon Limited, (BSE code: 532523, NSE Id: BIOCON, ISIN Id: INE376G01013) is India’s largest and Asia’s leading biotechnology company with a strategic focus on biopharmaceuticals and research services. It is a fully integrated, innovation-driven biopharma enterprise offering affordable solutions for chronic diseases to patient’s worldwide. Biocon's robust product portfolio includes the world's first Pichia-based recombinant human Insulin, INSUGEN^®, Glargine, BASALOG^® and India's first biologic BioMAb-EGFR^® for head & neck cancer. It has now successfully developed its second novel biologic Itolizumab, a ‘first in class’ anti-CD6 monoclonal antibody, introduced as Alzumab™ for psoriasis in India, in 2013. Visit: archive.biocon.com


For further information, please contact:

Media Relations

Seema Ahuja
Phone: +91 080 2808 2808
Email: seema.ahuja@biocon.com

Rumman Ahamed
Phone: +91 080 2808 2808
Email: rumman.ahmed@biocon.com


Investor Relations

Saurabh Paliwal
Phone: +91 95383 80801
Email: saurabh.paliwal@biocon.com