Overview

Persistent inequities in global health systems continue to limit timely and equitable access to life-saving vaccines, particularly across low- and middle-income regions. Addressing these disparities requires not only scientific innovation but also the development of regional capacity, sustainable infrastructure, and genuinely equitable partnerships. In this context, the UK–Southeast Asia Vaccine Manufacturing Research Hub (UK-SEA Vax Hub) was established to strengthen vaccine security and advance health equity across Southeast Asia.

This talk will present the Hub’s vision of enabling self-reliant and resilient vaccine manufacturing ecosystems in the region. It will highlight how interdisciplinary approaches, spanning bioprocessing, synthetic biology, and advanced manufacturing, are being translated into scalable, context-appropriate solutions.

Beyond technology, the talk will emphasise the critical roles of workforce development, knowledge exchange, and policy engagement in improving vaccine accessibility. Through examples from across its diverse partner network, the presentation will demonstrate how the UK-SEA Vax Hub is fostering long-term capacity and regional empowerment, while enhancing preparedness for future health threats. Ultimately, achieving global health resilience depends on distributed innovation, shared expertise, and a sustained commitment to equity.

Speaker

Tuck Seng Wong, Professor of Biomanufacturing, Director of the UK-SEA Vax Hub, University of Sheffield

TSW is Professor of Biomanufacturing at the University of Sheffield (UK), where he leads the £7.6M UK–Southeast Asia Vaccine Manufacturing Research Hub (UK-SEA Vax Hub) and serves as Deputy Director of the £38M National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC). He also holds adjunct appointments at BIOTEC (Thailand) and the Bandung Institute of Technology (Indonesia), reflecting his strong international engagement. He has received several prestigious fellowships, including the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng), Leverhulme Trust Senior Research Fellowship (2019), RAEng Industrial Fellowship (2016), MRC Career Development Fellowship (2007), and JSPS Invitational Fellowship (2023).

Under his leadership, the UK-SEA Vax Hub was recognised with the IChemE Global Award in the Biopharma category and the Bionow Social Impact Award (both 2025). With over two decades of expertise in protein engineering and engineering biology, his research spans biopharmaceutical development, enzyme biocatalysis, and sustainable protein production. He is the author of A Practical Guide to Protein Engineering (ISBN: 978-3-030-56898-6), which has been translated into German (ISBN: 978-3-031-32826-8).

TSW is also an academic entrepreneur, co-founding Evolutor Ltd (2022), which develops microbial strains for biomanufacturing through accelerated evolution, and ReNewFood Ltd (2024), which focuses on protein-based flavour ingredients for alternative foods. A dedicated mentor, he has coached University of Sheffield iGEM teams to international success, including a Gold Medal and Best Open Project (2019), and an Impact Grant, Gold Medal, and Best Hardware nomination (2022). His career has been shaped by mentorship from leading scientists, including Nobel Laureate Prof. Frances H. Arnold, Prof. Ulrich Schwaneberg, Prof. Sir Alan Fersht, and Prof. Alexander Steinbüchel.

The material presented has not been peer-reviewed. Any opinions are the presenter’s own and do not necessarily represent those of IChemE or the Pharma Special Interest Group. The information is given in good faith but without any liability on the part of IChemE

Time

12:00–13:00 BST.

Software

The presentation will be delivered via Microsoft Teams. We recommend downloading the app from the Microsoft website, rather than using the web portal.