NEWARK, Del., January 9, 2018 — The National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL), a Manufacturing USA institute designed to advance biopharmaceutical manufacturing in the U.S., is proud to announce the selection of 14 technology and 8 workforce development projects as a result of Project Call 2.1.
The 22 projects have an approximate value of nearly $13M, including NIIMBL funding and cost share from participating organizations. The NIIMBL portfolio now includes a total investment of more than $45M across 44 technology and workforce development projects.
Project teams represent the diversity of expertise and interests found within the NIIMBL community. Industry partners account for half of the 36 project participants in this round of funding, including technology projects led by Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, and MilliporeSigma. Project teams also consist of leading research institutions, community colleges, and non-profits.
“We would like to thank the NIIMBL partners who responded enthusiastically to our latest project call. Through this process, we were able to select a group of projects that we believe will help address common challenges and demonstrate significant value to the industry,” said Kelvin Lee, NIIMBL Institute Director.
The Institute issued project call 2.1 in May. Project Call 2.1 solicited projects addressing key technology and workforce priority areas defined by industry members.
As one of 14 manufacturing USA Institutes, NIIMBL strengthens U.S. leadership in biopharmaceutical manufacturing through innovative technologies, workforce training, and standards development. NIIMBL convenes large biomanufacturers, suppliers, small companies, academic institutions, and government agencies to collaborate on projects that address shared manufacturing challenges and develop the biopharmaceutical workforce.
Subject to project award negotiations, NIIMBL intends to fund the following technology and workforce projects:
Technology Projects
Use of Metabolic Flux Analysis (MFA) to Expedite Media Selection and Optimization of CHO
Lead:Â MilliporeSigma
Participant: Metalytics
Mechanistic Modeling for Enhanced Chromatographic Productivity
Lead: Genentech, a member of the Roche Group
Participants: Merck & Co., Inc., ImmunoGen, Inc., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Repligen Corporation, University of Delaware
Low-cost Production and Purification of Cytokines and Growth Factors for Cell Therapy Products
Lead: Potomac Affinity Proteins
Participant: University of Maryland College Park
Fully Automated Micro-Bioreactor
Lead: ProMechSys-RLP, LLC
Participants: Genentech, a member of Roche Group, MilliporeSigma, Johns Hopkins University
Blaze™ Microchip System for Real-Time Characterization of Intact Biopharmaceutical
Lead: Intabio
Participants: Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Celgene, Merck & Co., Inc., MilliporeSigma
Improving Lyophilization of Recombinant Proteins with ssHDX-MS
Lead: Purdue University
Participants: Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Lindy Biosciences, Inc., Aerosol Therapeutics
Continuous Cell Culture for Viral Vaccines
Lead: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Participants: Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, Merck & Co., Inc., Repligen Corporation, University of Massachusetts Medical School
A Multiscale Metabolic Model for Fed Batch Culture Process Control
Lead: University of Minnesota
Participants: Merck & Co., Inc., MilliporeSigma, Metalytics
Small-scale Membrane-less Perfusion Bioreactor System for High-throughput Cell Line Development and Process Optimization
Lead: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Participants: Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Merck & Co., Inc., MilliporeSigma, Whirlcell Pte. Ltd.
Development of a Microchip CE-HPMS Analyzer for Bioreactor Monitoring
Lead: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Participants: MilliporeSigma, Celgene, 908 Devices, Inc., North Carolina State University
mAb Productivity Improvement by Metabolic Engineering of Novel Inhibitory Biomarker in Integrated Continuous Manufacturing
Lead: University of Massachusetts Lowell
Participants: Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Merck & Co., Inc., ImmunoGen, Inc., Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, Johns Hopkins University
Nanofluidic Analytics Platform for Multi-Modal Bioprocess Monitoring and Real-Time Product Release
Lead: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Participants: Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, MilliporeSigma, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, Redbud Labs, Inc.
A Transcriptome-based model for improved CAR-T Therapy
Lead: Villanova University
Participants: Merck & Co., Inc., Redbud Labs, Inc.
In-line Self-calibrated pH Monitoring System with Hyperspectral Imaging and Deep Learning
Lead: University of Maryland College Park
Participants: Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, ImmunoGen, Inc., Artemis Biosystems Inc.
Workforce Projects
Online Lyophilization Short Course
Lead: Purdue University
Participants: Merck & Co., Inc., North Carolina State University
Development of an e-Learning Library for New Biotech Employees
Lead: University of Maryland College Park
Participant: Merck & Co., Inc.
Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing for the FDA
Lead: University of Maryland College Park
Participant: North Carolina State University
A Microlearning Capability for a Busy Biopharmaceutical Workforce
Lead: Fraunhofer USA
Participant: University of Maryland College Park
Merck-NJII Biopharmaceutical Training Acceleration Proposal (BTAP)
Lead: New Jersey Innovation Institute
Participant: Merck & Co., Inc.
Characterization of Cell Therapy Products by Flow and Laser Force Cytometry
Lead: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Participants: Celgene, LumaCyte, LLC
A Continuous Improvement, Rapid Training Development, and Workforce Attraction Program for the Biomanufacturing Industry
Lead: BioBuzz Workforce Foundation, Inc.
Participants: RoosterBio, Inc., University of Maryland College Park
Stackable Credentials for Biotechnology Workforce Development
Lead: Shoreline Community College
Participants: Celgene, Life Science Washington
About NIIMBL
NIIMBL is a public-private partnership with the goal of advancing innovation in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. NIIMBL is part of Manufacturing USA®, a network of 14 manufacturing institutes across the country that brings together industry, academia, and the public sector to propel promising research developments, accelerate new products to market, and train tomorrow’s workforce in order to secure America’s future. NIIMBL is funded through a cooperative agreement with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the U.S. Department of Commerce, and leverages additional support from industry, academic institutions, non-profit organizations, and the states of Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The NIIMBL mission is to accelerate biopharmaceutical innovation, support the development of standards that enable more efficient and rapid manufacturing capabilities, and educate and train a world-leading biopharmaceutical manufacturing workforce, fundamentally advancing U.S. competitiveness in this industry.
Contact: Daniel Maiese, Communications Manager
[email protected]Â 302-831-3824
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