Category: CESPE Academy

Spectroscopic Modelling Using Python

Post author By cespe
Post date November 22, 2024

COURSE OVERVIEW

The Spectroscopic Modelling Using Python training is a hands-on course for building custom spectroscopic models using Python. Techniques like NIR and Raman spectroscopy are powerful tools for non-destructively evaluating chemical and physical sample properties, but proper data processing is key to unlocking their full potential.

This course will be given by experts from elegent, a spin-off company from Ghent University offering modelling services for the pharmaceutical and food industries.

This course covers essential steps for creating reliable models, introducing key Python modules and demonstrating their use through a pharmaceutical manufacturing case study. Participants will gain a thorough understanding of both theoretical concepts and their practical application in Python.

Target Audience

The target audience is professionals or students in chemical, pharmaceutical & healthcare sciences and engineering.

Please note that a basic understanding of the Python programming language is required. Basic understanding of spectroscopy is recommended.

COURSE PROGRAM

A detailed overview of the course can be found in the following document.

SpectroscopicModellingUsingPython Download

If you are interested in taking this course, please email Mark (mark.gontsarik@ugent.be).

Tags 12/03/2025

CESPE Academy Courses

Efficient Data Processing Using Python

Post author By cespe
Post date November 22, 2024

COURSE OVERVIEW

The Efficient Data Processing training is a hands-on course designed to help participants accelerate their data workflows. Processing large, complex datasets often takes significantly more time than data collection, but this course demonstrates how Python can streamline these tasks for faster analysis and interpretation. This course will be given by experts from elegent, a spin-off company from Ghent University offering modelling services for the pharmaceutical and food industries.

Through case studies focused on pharmaceutical R&D manufacturing, participants will learn to clean and transform data using Python modules like numpy, pandas, and scikit-learn, along with visualization tools such as matplotlib, seaborn, and plotly. The training integrates theoretical background with practical application, making it especially relevant for scientists and academics in R&D.

By eliminating repetitive tasks, optimizing workflows, and enabling visual analysis of experiments, this course equips participants with tools to enhance efficiency in data processing.

Target Audience

The target audience is professionals or students in chemical, pharmaceutical & healthcare sciences and engineering.

Please note that a basic understanding of the Python programming language is required.

COURSE PROGRAM

A detailed overview of the different modules can be found in the following document.

DataProcessingUsingPython Download

If you are interested in taking this course, please email Mark (mark.gontsarik@ugent.be).

Tags 11/03/2025

CESPE Academy Courses

Sustainability and Life Cycle Assessment: From Theory to Practical Applications in Pharma

Post author By cespe
Post date November 19, 2024

COURSE OVERVIEW

The Sustainable Systems Engineering (STEN) group offers a comprehensive training program in Sustainability and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), with a focus on the pharmaceutical industry. The program consists of three modules: foundational concepts, practical skills, and industry-specific applications.

The foundational module covers principles of sustainability assessment and the LCA methodology. The practical module provides hands-on experience with LCA software, while the advanced module focuses on applying LCA in the pharmaceutical sector, including case studies and modeling challenges. Through lectures, case studies, and interactive sessions, participants gain essential knowledge and skills to perform sustainability assessments, with an emphasis on practical applications and critical thinking about sustainability in the pharmaceutical field. Moreover, practical expertise in the LCA process empowers decision-makers to fully comprehend the insights derived from the analysis, enabling them to make more informed and sustainable choices.

Target Audience

This training is ideal for professionals, researchers, and PhD students in pharma, as well as for environmental sciences, engineering, and related fields who wish to enhance their understanding and application of sustainability assessment methodologies

COURSE PROGRAM

A detailed overview of the different modules can be found in the following document.

Sustainability and Life Cycle Assessment From theory to practical application in pharma Download

If you are interested in taking this course, please email Mark (mark.gontsarik@ugent.be).

Tags 7-9/05/2025

CESPE Academy Courses

Design of Experiments (DOE)

Post author By cespe
Post date May 24, 2024

COURSE OVERVIEW

The DOE training is hands-on and designed for individuals who want to actively engage in Experimental Design and gain a better understanding of the statistical analysis of experimental data. The course emphasizes the Optimal Design of Experiments, matching the experimental design to the problem while considering all experimental boundary conditions and constraints. Optimal DOE is computer-aided, meaning experiment runs and regression models are generated by computer algorithms; the software package used is JMP. The topics are illustrated through case studies and examples from industrial R&D, making the training particularly relevant for professionals in that field.

The course is divided into two modules, each lasting one full day. The basic module begins by covering the necessary theory, including basic training in linear multiple regression analysis for analyzing experimental data and establishing statistical process models needed for parameter screening and optimization. Additionally, the JMP software package will be introduced, and simple cases will be reviewed to describe the basic DOE approach. The advanced module covers more complex examples with specific experimental conditions. In each of the case studies, the goal is to improve the performance of a process or product through efficient exploration and optimization.

Target audience

The target audience is professionals or students in chemical, pharmaceutical & healthcare sciences and engineering.

COURSE PROGRAM

A detailed overview of the different modules can be found in the following document.

Design-and-Analysis-of-Experiments-DOE Download

If you are interested in taking this course, please email Mark (mark.gontsarik@ugent.be).

Tags 27-28/2/2025

CESPE Academy Courses

Process Control and Optimization

Post author By cespe
Post date January 22, 2024

COURSE OVERVIEW

This course addresses the question of how we can keep pharmaceutical processes in optimal manufacturing conditions while ensuring versatility, resilience and quality of end product. Pharmaceutical control systems that are sustainable and balance the ecological footprint with ensuring access to high quality products and maintaining profitable supply chains. This question is part of the larger (international) challenge to ensure sustainable demand and production patterns, by improving environmental and societal sustainability and increasing the circularity in pharmaceutical production systems. This course is divided into two separate modules:

Module 1: Process identification: (1/2-day – morning)
&
Module 2: PID-based process control (1/2-day – afternoon)

MODULE 1: Process Identification

Theoretical

This course will provide interactive learning and real-world application, so you can directly apply what you’re learning to your own context

The following will be addressed:

Fundamentals of process identification
&
Understanding process dynamics
&
Identification at operator level (e.g. first order plus dead time approximation model)
&
Systems identification from relay experiments (PRBS identification)

Target audience

People with no experience/expertise in the topic
&
People that want a refreshment on the basic principles

MODULE 2: PID-based process control

This course will provide interactive learning and real-world application, so you can directly apply what you’re learning to your own context

The following will be addressed:

PID based control for process optimization
&
Auto-tuning methods for PID design
&
Frequency response design for PID design (FRTool)

The session will end with an overview of advanced process control methodologies (e.g. model predictive control, event-based control, etc.) able to ensure plant-wide optimization.

Target audience

People with no experience/expertise in the topic
&
People that want a refreshment on the basic principles

COURSE PROGRAM

A detailed overview of the different modules can be found in the following document.

Process-Control-and-Optimization-1 Download

Registrations are open for this course. If you have any questions please email Mark (mark.gontsarik@ugent.be).

Tags 29/04/2025

CESPE Academy Courses

Material characterization

Post author By cespe
Post date May 8, 2023

COURSE OVERVIEW

This course gives an introduction on the (pharmaceutical) relevance of (raw) material characterization. An overview is given about the relevant characterization methods on the market, their applicability and how the material properties can be used to describe the processability.
This 1-day course consists out of a theoretical (interactive) and hands-on part.

MODULE 1: BASIC COURSE

Theoretical

The trainee will get an in-depth explanation about the different characterization methods, their (pharmaceutical) relevance and what you can do with the generated data.
Some of the key material characteristics described are:

Flow/cohesion
&
Particle size and shape
&
Density and porosity
&
Electrostatic charge
&
Melting point and crystal structure
&
Viscosity

Practical

Hands-on sessions will allow the trainee to get a feel with what it takes to characterize a material.
The extensive array of characterization equipments, available at CESPE, will be made available to visualize the difference between highly divergent powders.
Some of the equipment that will be used are:

FT4 Powder Rheometer
&
Schulze Ring Shear Tester
&
Granutools^TM equipment
&
Malvern Laser diffractors
&
DVS and DSC equipment

Upon request, a powder of interest could be tested on the available equipment!
For more information, please contact Sarah.Costers@UGent.be .

COURSE PROGRAM

A detailed overview of the course can be found in the following document.

Material-characterization-1 Download

If you are interested in taking this course, please email Mark (mark.gontsarik@ugent.be).

CESPE Academy Courses

Process Analytical Technologies

Post author By cespe
Post date May 8, 2023

COURSE OVERVIEW

This course focusses on giving a basic introduction about the implementation of PAT tools in the (bio)pharmaceutical industry.
This course is given in an interactive manner (both theoretical and hands-on) and can be divided into two separate modules:

Module 1: Basic course: Introduction to PAT (1-day module)
&
Module 2: Basic data-analysis and modeling (1.5-day module)

Requirements
Basic understanding of spectroscopy and (bio)pharmaceutical processes
&
Basic understanding of coding and programming (python)

MODULE 1: BASIC COURSE: INTRODUCTION TO PAT

Theoretical

The trainee will get a general introduction to PAT and the common (non-)spectroscopic sensors, learning how, when and where these tools can provide a benefit.

Spectroscopic sensors
&
Non-spectroscopic sensors (Univariate/Multivariate)
&
Hyperspectral imaging
&
PAT in R&D/Process Validation/QbD
&
Regulatory aspects
&
Multivariate data-analysis

Practical

The trainee will get the chance to see how PAT tools can be used/implemented and how this translates in a practical approach to acquire relevant process information.
Some of the tools that will be demonstrated are:

NIR
&
Raman
&
FLIR

Target audience

People with no experience/expertise in the topic
&
People that want a refreshment on the basic principles

MODULE 2: BASIC DATA-ANALYSIS AND MODELING

Theory through practice

Using spectroscopic data, the teacher will go through different aspects of PAT and model development together with the attendee.

General introduction to Python
&
Data preparation and exploration
&
Introduction to modeling
&
Process control based on PAT

Target audience

People with no experience/expertise in the topic
&
People that want a refreshment on the basic principles

COURSE PROGRAM

A detailed overview of the different modules can be found in the following document.

PAT Download

If you are interested in taking this course, please email Mark (mark.gontsarik@ugent.be).

CESPE Academy Courses

Tableting 101

Post author By cespe
Post date May 8, 2023

COURSE OVERVIEW

Tableting 101 focusses on giving a thorough but basic introduction about the tableting process in an interactive manner (both theoretical and hands-on).
This course is divided into two separate modules:

Module 1: Basic course: Introduction to the tableting process (1/2-day module)
&
Module 2: Deeper dive into specific tableting aspects (1/2-day module)

MODULE 1: BASIC INTRODUCTION TO THE TABLETING PROCESS

Theoretical

The trainee will get an in-depth explanation about the basic tableting aspects such as:

Basic fundamentals
&
Tableting equipment
&
Tablet formulation
&
Tableting process
&
Compaction mechanisms and models

Theory through practice

Theory about two divergent tableting systems will be given through hands-on sessions: setting up the equipment; explanation of all parts; tablet production; tablet quality determination.
Materials/blends will be processed throughout the session on the following equipment:

Compaction simulator
&
Rotary tablet press (MODUL^TM P)

Target audience

People with no experience/expertise in the topic
&
People that want a refreshment on the basic principles

MODULE 2: DEEPER DIVE INTO SPECIFIC TABLETING ASPECTS

In this module, the goal is to highlight specific aspects of the tableting process through different use-cases. Each use-case allows the trainee to get an in-depth comprehension of a specific part of the tableting process.

Topics

Lubrication (internal/external)
&
Sticking
&
Die filling
&
Compaction models

The trainee has the option to take up all of the provided topics, covering a full day course, or select a sub-set of these topics.

Target audience

People that understand the basic principles of the process and want to have a more in-depth knowledge on specific aspects.

COURSE PROGRAM

A detailed overview of the different modules can be found in the following document.

Tableting_101 Download

If you are interested in taking this course, please email Mark (mark.gontsarik@ugent.be).

CESPE Academy Courses

Lyophilization 101

Post author By cespe
Post date May 8, 2023

COURSE OVERVIEW

Lyophilization 101 provides a comprehensive introduction to pharmaceutical freeze-drying through an engaging mix of theoretical and hands-on training.
This one-day course equips trainees with a solid understanding of the essential principles, covering the entire process from starting materials to the finished product.

Theoretical

Introduction to Lyophilization: What is freeze-drying, its uses, freeze-dryer schematics, and common issues.

Lyophilization Formulations: Key properties of freeze-dried materials and product quality.

Freeze-Drying Process Modeling: Overview of transport phenomena, primary drying modeling, and important parameters.

Freeze-Drying PAT: What is PAT, its purpose, and key tools

Practical

CESPE Freeze-Drying Lab Tour: Batch and continuous freeze-dryers, sample characterization setup.

Continuous Freeze-Drying: Comparison with batch freeze-drying and its advantages.

COURSE PROGRAM

A detailed overview of the program can be found in the following document.

Lyophilization 101 V2 Download

If you are interested in taking this course, please email Mark (mark.gontsarik@ugent.be).

Tags Q2 2025

CESPE Academy Courses

Twin screw granulation 101

Post author By cespe
Post date May 8, 2023

COURSE OVERVIEW

Twin screw granulation 101 focusses on giving a thorough introduction about the granulation process in an interactive manner (both theoretical and hands-on).
This course can be divided into three separate modules:

Module 1: Basic course: Introduction to twin screw wet granulation (1-day module)
&
Module 2: Basic course: Introduction to twin screw hot-melt granulation (1/2-day module)
&
Module 3: Specialized courses (1/2-day module)

MODULE 1: WET GRANULATION

Theoretical

The trainee will get an in-depth explanation about the basic twin screw wet granulation aspects such as:

Equipment overview
&
Principles of wet granulation
&
Batch vs continuous manufacturing
&
Process and formulation parameters
&
Granule characterization

Practical

The in-house ConsiGma^TM -25 line will be used to demonstrate the twin screw wet granulation process. Afterwards, the produced granules will be tested using the available granule characterization methods.
The hands-on session consists out of:

ConsiGma^TM-25 demonstration with placebo
&
Introduction to granule characterization methods

MODULE 2: HOT-MELT GRANULATION

Theoretical

The trainee will get an in-depth explanation about the basic twin screw hot-melt granulation aspects such as:

Equipment overview
&
Fundamentals of hot-melt granulation
&
Equipment configurations and settings
&
Pitfalls
&
Granule characterization*

*Will be skipped if module 1 was followed as well.

Practical

The trainee will be able to follow and help during placebo trials using a twin screw hot-melt granulator. The influence of process and formulation parameters will be demonstrated.

MODULE 3: SPECIALIZED COURSES

In this module, the goal is to highlight specific aspects of the granulation process through different use-cases. Each use-case allows the trainee to get an in-depth comprehension of a specific part of the process.

Topics

Wet granulation: Modified release formulations
&
Wet granulation: Impact of dry or wet addition

The trainee has the option to take up all of the provided topics, covering a half day course, or select a sub-set of these topics.

COURSE PROGRAM

A detailed overview of the different modules can be found in the following document.

Twin-screw-granulation-101 Download

If you are interested in taking this course, please email Mark (mark.gontsarik@ugent.be).

CESPE Academy Courses

Feeding 101

Post author By cespe
Post date May 8, 2023

COURSE OVERVIEW

Feeding 101 focusses on giving a thorough introduction about the feeding process in an interactive manner (both theoretical and hands-on).
This course is divided into two separate modules:

Module 1: Basic course: Introduction to feeding (1-day module)
&
Module 2: Specialized courses (1/2-day module)

MODULE 1: BASIC COURSE

Theoretical

The trainee will get an in-depth explanation about the basic feeding aspects such as:

Types of feeding equipment
&
Feeder accessories and their function
&
Types of feeder trials
&
Feeder data acquisition and analysis

Practical

During the hands-on sessions, the trainee will learn on how to install, operate and dismantel a loss-in-weight feeder.
The feeder demonstrations will be performed using two divergent materials.

Upon request, a powder of interest could be tested on the available equipment!
For more information, please contact Sarah.Costers@UGent.be.

MODULE 2: SPECIALIZED COURSES

In this module, the goal is to highlight specific aspects of the feeding process through different use-cases. Each use-case allows the trainee to get an in-depth comprehension of a specific part of the process.

Topics

Surrogate approach for feeding
&
Impact of glidant addition
&
How specific configurations and settings can impact the feeding performance

The trainee has the option to take up all of the provided topics, covering a full day course, or select a sub-set of these topics.

COURSE PROGRAM

A detailed overview of the different modules can be found in the following document.

Feeding-101 Download

If you are interested in taking this course, please email Mark (mark.gontsarik@ugent.be).