The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have designated Brazil’s Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) as a Regional Biomanufacturing Training Center for the Americas. This move is part of a global initiative launched by WHO in 2023 to strengthen workforce training and support sustainable regional production of essential health technologies such as vaccines and biopharmaceuticals.
The new center will provide hands-on training across the biomanufacturing value chain, including research and development, technology transfer, bioprocessing, quality systems, regulatory affairs, clinical development, and production scale-up. It will also foster collaboration among governments, universities, and industry to advance health equity and security. PAHO played a key role in evaluating and selecting Fiocruz, underscoring the institution’s strong track record in vaccine production, technology transfer, and innovation for the Global South.
Fiocruz joins a global network of biomanufacturing training centers spanning all six WHO regions, coordinated by the Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing in the Republic of Korea. Other centers are located in Senegal, South Africa, India, Ireland, Egypt, and China. Together, they aim to expand access to specialized training, strengthen technical cooperation, and promote global alignment on quality standards.
The initiative aligns with resolutions from the World Health Assembly and PAHO that emphasize building national and regional capacities for medicine and health technology production. By investing in workforce development, the program seeks to improve preparedness for health emergencies and strengthen the resilience of health systems across the Americas.
