“Education Should Inspire and Be Immediately Applicable”
“A good idea for a new medicine is only the beginning,” says Kenter. “But how do you get that idea from the lab to the patient? We’re creating an inspiring, hands-on post-graduate education & training (E&T) program for biomedical and pharmaceutical professionals with ambitions to develop new medicinal products or vaccines. We’re also training them to bring their products to market and to patients.”
The program targets professionals from academia, industry, and authorities. “We explicitly embrace a learning-by-doing approach,” adds Kenter. “Participants not only acquire knowledge but also develop skills they can immediately apply in their daily job.”
Initial Steps: Subject Matter Expertise and Multimedia Education
Kenter shares that a team of experienced industry experts is already on board. They contribute deep expertise in fields like pharmacology, toxicology, and regulatory affairs. Together with a course developer, they are creating the content for new online courses.
“We aim for education that’s both strong in content and engaging in delivery. That’s why we’re building on earlier experiences from the Paul Janssen Futurelab,” Kenter says. “One example is our six-episode, Netflix-like educational series on medicinal product development, fully produced in-house. It shows how we use multimedia to make complex topics accessible and compelling.” Check the intro to the series here.
Challenges: Real-World Cases and Limited Access
One current challenge is sourcing real-world industry case studies. “We’d like to use actual R&D case material from the pharmaceutical industry,” Kenter explains. “But that kind of information is rarely public. We’re reaching out to pharmaceutical and biotech companies in our network, asking them to share data, confidentially and for educational use.”
Looking Ahead: Coherence and Alignment
In the months ahead, the team will focus on writing and structuring course materials. “A key priority is to ensure the different courses align well: in content, format, and terminology. They should also integrate seamlessly with our existing Futurelab offerings.”
Suggestion: Centralize the Course Offerings
Kenter also offers a suggestion to PharmaNL: “Several educational projects are being supported. It would be very helpful to create a centralized, easy-to-access online hub showcasing the full range of courses. That would make it much easier for professionals to find the training that fits their needs.”
Final Thought: A Shared Vision Makes the Difference
What makes this project truly impactful, according to Kenter? “The team. We’ve brought together people who share a vision for education. That not only fosters great collaboration, it leads to inspiring, practical learning that really benefits the participants.”
Want to Know More?
Interested in learning more about this project? Contact project lead Marcel Kenter (M.J.H.Kenter@lumc.nl) and visit for more information on our post-graduate Education & Training program and course dates the website https://www.pauljanssenfuturelab.eu/
Curious about PharmaNL’s funding opportunities for your project? Check our website or contact PharmaNL program manager Floor van de Watering (floor.vandewatering@briskr.nl).
News June 10, 2025 