ISPE defines the life science industry

The International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) has released a comprehensive Glossary of Applied Terminology for the Pharmaceutical Industry that aims to standardise industry terms across a wide range of life science disciplines.

The glossary is available through ISPE's website, at www.ispe.org/glossary, where visitors can search for more than 5,000 abbreviations, acronyms and terms in English, French, and German, with other languages to be added in the future, including Japanese. They can also submit terms to be considered for future inclusion.

Compiled by Michelle Gonzalez, principal corporate engineer with Amgen and long-time member of ISPE with almost 40 years' experience in facilities design and engineering, and Gail Evans, ISPE's technical advisor, the glossary focuses on specific areas in biotechnology and pharmaceutical manufacturing and technology, such as computer technology, manufacturing processes, water treatment, welding, metallurgy, HVAC, medicine, biology and chemistry.

To create the glossary, Gonzalez and Evans compiled terms from scientific journals, industry magazines, professional organisations, the Internet, industry seminars, company guides, vendor and manufacturer information, national and international codes, and a diverse cadre of industry experts.