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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/R33878/01
Title: A research programme to change fundamentally the way in which biopharmaceutical processes are developed
Principal Investigator: Hoare, Professor M
Other Investigators:
Levy, Dr MS Zhou, Dr Y Titchener-Hooker, Professor N
Washbrook, Mr J Thornhill, Professor NF Coffin, Dr R
Hart, Professor SL Shamlou, Dr P Ward, Professor JM
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Biochemical Engineering
Organisation: UCL
Scheme: IMRC (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 April 2002 Ends: 31 March 2007 Value (£): 3,086,699
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Bioprocess Engineering Design of Process systems
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology R&D
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The research will combine novel approaches to scale-down and bioprocess modelling. Once proven broadly the approach will allow companies to collect crucial process information without waiting for clinical promise to be fully established. This will avoid the increasingly costly delays at pilot-scale trials stage. The very small process mimics we are creating will often demand several devices rather than the single scale-down equipment conventionally used. It will also be necessary to integrate these ultra scale-down systems closely with models because the properties information must be carried through the whole bioprocess and the consequences of it being acted upon by each subsequent step need to be embraced. The experimental research will define key biochemical engineering issues such as the impact of hydrodynamic forces and of contaminating colloids. By building the portfolio of ultra scale-down systems and bioprocess models and by addressing a range of cellular sources we shall be able to give companies the confidence to use these radical approaches in what is an extremely tightly regulated sector. The research will be managed by an industry-led Steering Group and an established training scheme will be extended to ensure that company personnel are able to absorb the new approach fully.
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