Pharma Factory: Building the product pipeline for commercial demonstration of Plant Molecular Factories.
London College of Communication, University of the Arts London (UAL) collaborates on a four year over €8 Million Horizon 2020 project – Pharma-Factory. Led by St Georges, University of London, the central aim of the project is for 5 biotechnology SMEs and 9 academic partners to explore the development of commercially viable products through Plant Molecular Farming (PMF), for the manufacture of high-value products for medical and veterinary use from plant biotechnology.
The central aim of the project is for the SMEs to explore the development of commercially viable products through Plant Molecular Farming (PMF), for the manufacture of high value products for medical and veterinary use from plant biotechnology. Concurrently to this work, a comprehensive programme of novel and creative public engagement activities, using co-design and other creative methods will be applied to better understand resistances and increase the acceptance of these products.
Advances in Genetically Modified technology in Europe have struggled to gain public acceptance since the commercialisation of GM food 2 decades ago. This reluctance by the public towards GM foods has influenced regulations and limited commercialisation of all GM technologies, including those involved in high-value pharmaceuticals.
The UAL team led by the Principal Investigator Dr Alison Prendiville will be responsible for improving public involvement with plant biotechnology at a European-wide level. The work has been designed to gain maximal impact by engaging with all stakeholders developing new tools to facilitate communication and knowledge exchange, to help understand and reduce barriers to acceptance.