Reuben is currently lead process engineer on a new medicines project to treat HIV. Functioning as a long acting injectable medicine, milling to nano particle sizes was required. This involved a redesign of paint milling machines to meet the needs of sterile products – a Clean in Place, Sterilise in Place system. One mill has now been installed and validated to produce clinical trial batches, with a view to supply registration batches by 2018.
The wider team working on the project has recently been cited “Highly Commended” by the President of Global Manufacturing Supply at GSK in 2016; Reuben cities this as one of his biggest career achievements to date along with being awarded the Young Achievers award in the Pharmaceutical division by the North East Process Industries Cluster.
Reuben’s process engineering career began with studies in mechanical engineering at Queen's University, Belfast via a scholarship due to exemplary A-level results. Understanding the need for practical skills and with a firm interest in pharmaceutical production, Reuben secured a project engineering position for his industrial placement year with GSK at Barnard Castle.
Joining GSK full time in 2012, Reuben started a second MSc degree course in process systems at Cranfield University and graduated within three years whilst working at GSK. His academic achievements allowed for an early chartership application, which saw Reuben receive IMechE chartered engineer status in March 2016.