Innovative and flexible educational offering
The project officially starts on 1 April 2026 and will run for four years. PEAT develops four courses, each consisting of six to seven half-day modules. Diekstra explains: “We offer the courses in English and, in addition to a physical format, also as e-learning. This allows participants to follow the training at a time that suits them and makes the programme accessible internationally.”
The courses focus on RNA therapeutics, protein therapeutics, drug delivery, and advanced model systems. Modules can be taken individually or combined into a full course, allowing participants to selectively strengthen prior knowledge or complete a comprehensive learning pathway. “The didactic challenge is to ensure that each module stands on its own, while the overall programme aligns with a wide range of prior knowledge levels,” Brock explains.
A key principle of PEAT is that the modules can be deployed directly within, for example, company onboarding programmes. “We want to avoid situations where employees have to wait a year before a course is offered again,” Brock says. “Our modules can therefore be used flexibly, exactly when a new employee needs the knowledge.”
Target group, impact and sustainable embedding
The educational offering is primarily aimed at professionals in drug discovery, ranging from medicine development to pharmaceutical production, and includes participants with diverse educational backgrounds. After the pilot phase, the courses will be embedded in the existing course portfolios of HAN and Radboudumc, creating a sustainable and structural offering that reaches both academic audiences and, in particular, professionals working in industry.
Diekstra adds: “We want people to truly benefit from this education: training that is directly applicable in daily practice and contributes to their professional development.” A gap analysis conducted by PharmaNL also shows a strong demand for this type of educational offering.
Collaboration and innovation
PEAT promotes close collaboration between educational institutions and industry. Brock notes: “The strength of this project lies in the short lines of communication with the field, allowing direct knowledge exchange. This makes the educational offering truly relevant to practice.” In-house expertise and potential future partners, such as Pivot Park, further position the platform close to real-world professional practice.
Diekstra emphasises that PEAT also introduces a new form of collaboration: “HAN and Radboudumc have long collaborated in areas such as nursing education, but within laboratory technology this collaboration was far less established. That is now changing with this project, and I am extremely proud of that.”
Grant application: experience and tips
Brock and Diekstra describe the PharmaNL grant application process as intensive, but constructive and instructive. Key advice for future applicants includes starting early, involving the right partners, and keeping the consortium structure manageable. “We were able to move quickly because we worked with a small core team,” Brock explains. According to Diekstra, commitment from industry partners is crucial, although the application procedure offered limited opportunities to fully reflect this involvement.
Looking ahead
PEAT demonstrates how the practical application of research knowledge, flexible didactics, and collaboration between education and industry can come together to strengthen professionals in pharma and life sciences. As Brock concludes: “This project connects research, education and the professional field in a tangible way, better preparing professionals for the challenges of tomorrow.”
Text: PharmaNL (author Marlies Schipperheijn)
Photo: Roland Brock and Adinda Diekstra
News February 11, 2026 