Photo credit: Branon Stengel
For decades, industry partners and academic researchers have turned to the University of Minnesota for biomanufacturing support. Now, the opening of a state-of-the-art biomanufacturing facility on the St. Paul campus is increasing capacity and expanding opportunities to serve industry and academic researchers. The facility is the new home to Minnesota Biomanufacturing Services (formerly the Biotechnology Resource Center), expanding its footprint sixfold and quadrupling its fermentation capacity. This expansion also introduces a second downstream purification suite and scales up support, analytical and QC areas, enabling the facility to run multiple large-scale projects in parallel. The site is now uniquely equipped to ensure faster timelines and greater flexibility.
“Our new facility greatly expands our capacity to provide end-to-end bioprocess development, ensuring rigorous control and optimization at every stage,” says Minnesota Biomanufacturing Services Director Marcus Schicklberger. “While our name has changed, our commitment to rigor, quality and technical excellence remains at the heart of everything we do.”
Minnesota Biomanufacturing Services uses microbial and fungal fermentation to produce a variety of products, from compounds used for new pharmaceuticals to enzymes that can help clean up the environment. They work with academic researchers, Fortune 500 companies and biotech startups in the pharmaceutical, veterinary medicine, agricultural, industrial biotechnology and food sectors. The facility is set up to test processes and produce biological materials at a variety of scales ranging from milliliters and micrograms to hectoliters and kilograms.
“We’ve built a strong foundation in biopharma and veterinary partnerships, helping innovators turn bench-top prototypes into scalable processes,” says Schicklberger. “Positioned between research and development and commercial manufacturing, we combine speed, cost-efficiency, and rigor – creating a genuine win-win situation and building long-term partnerships with clients in industry and academia.”
Biomanufacturing in action
Distinguished McKnight University Professor Larry Wackett turned to Minnesota Biomanufacturing Services recently to help produce an enzyme to degrade explosives residue in soil. He worked with the staff to develop a process to produce the enzyme at a volume that could be used to test its efficacy. Wackett has relied on the University’s biomanufacturing facilities for several projects over the years. For one project, he developed an enzyme to clean up a pesticide spill for an agricultural technology company and was able to produce the quantity needed to apply at the field site.
“Access to biomanufacturing resources on campus allows us to do things we otherwise could not,” says Wackett. “Few universities have anything like this. In my experience, it opens up possibilities for partnership between industry and academic researchers, and supports innovation.”
Industry clients choose Minnesota Biomanufacturing Services for their expertise, short turn-around time, and commitment to excellence. One long-standing client — a global leader in the production of biologics for advanced therapies — describes the relationship this way:
"Throughout our history of working together, Minnesota Biomanufacturing Services has consistently demonstrated incredible scientific rigor and deep technical capability. They have a noteworthy ability to solve complex biological challenges with a blend of innovation and common sense."
The new facility became fully operational earlier this month. Industry clients and academic researchers are invited to contact Minnesota Biomanufacturing Services to discuss projects and opportunities to partner. — Stephanie Xenos
Contact Minnesota Biomanufacturing Services through its webpage.