Research Stream 1 Projects
Upstream processing media development
Chief Investigators
Professor Greg Martin (Lead), Professor Sally Gras
Research Fellow
Dr Bhagya Yatipanthalawa
PhD Student
Recruiting
This project studies mammalian cell culture production systems for recombinant protein production. Relying on advanced mathematical models including mechanistic, data driven and hybrid approaches to describe recombinant cell cultures and to examine the effect of culture conditions on cell growth, protein productivity and quality. This will establish methodologies to link experimental data, process models and growth and productivity for application by industry for process optimisation.
Upstream processing: Intensification, real time analytics and scaling
Chief Investigators
Professor Sally Gras (Lead), Professor Greg Martin, Professor Bogdan Gabrys
Research Fellow
Dr Mariia Timofeeva
Research Assistants
Dr Kenneth Ng, Timothy Hermanto
PhD Students
Nyssa Nair, Brendan Yu, Kaleb Ferede
New methods to optimise the productivity of recombinant protein production will be assessed in this project through the examination of fed-batch processes. Understanding the impact of process parameters on cell culture kinetics will contribute to the development of new mathematical models to describe cell growth as a function of time and across scales. Real-time analytics and predictive modelling will improve process control and cell growth to achieve real-time platform control.
Mechanistic model development for downstream processing
Chief Investigators
Professor Sandra Kentish (Lead),
Dr Ling Luo, Professor Sally Gras
PhD Student
Michele Discepola
Process performance and key unit operations within the downstream processing of monoclonal antibodies are the focus of this project. Improved process optimisation and control will be achieved through Process Analytical Technologies (PAT) for real time data collection combined with mechanistic models.
Membrane adsorbers as replacements for resin chromatography
Chief Investigator
Professor Sandra Kentish (Lead)
Research Fellow
Recruiting
PhD Student
Kauthar Maalim
This project explores the reduction of processing times and the net cost of operations through the use of membrane adsorbers and particulate filtration devices to replace process steps that currently use packed bed systems. The research seeks to develop new mechanistic, data driven and hybrid approaches to model and optimise purification processes.
Product Quality
Chief Investigators
Dr Celine Valery (Lead), Professor Sally Gras, Professor Sandra Kentish
PhD Students
Nimish Pradhan, Vinodya Karunadhika
Gaining a better understanding and control of the factors leading to high quality room temperature stable drug products is the focus of this project. Using experimental screens and data, mathematical and digital models and predictions of process conditions and formulations, the findings will impact on methods for recombinant protein purification, long term protein stability following production and storage, and provide new formulation and screening capabilities.