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UCL Biochemical Engineering hosts Centre of Excellence with Pall Corporation

UCL has joined forces with a global leader in filtration, separation and purification to address pressing challenges in the bioprocessing industry.

Red plastic vaccine phial holders with white and clear vaccine phials.

5 November 2021

The UCL-Pall Biotech Centre of Excellence, which focuses on the latest challenges in the bioprocessing sector, opened its doors in September 2018. A strategic partnership between UCL and Pall Corporation, it will continue until 2024.  

The specialist centre has been set up to facilitate knowledge transfer and address critical industry challenges. Experts from the organisations will be working together to explore areas such as: 

  • the manufacture of advanced biological therapeutics and prophylactics including antibodies, viral vectors and vaccines;
  • the translation of stem cell science into novel cell and tissue-based therapies. 

The investment in the UCL Biochemical Engineering’s industrial research collaboration programme with Pall is valued at £2.7M. It is being run via nine Engineering Doctorate (EngD) researchers and a fully funded Post-Doctoral Research Associate.  

“This alliance is an example of Pall’s commitment to continuously improve bioprocesses through strategic partnerships,” said Mario Philips, Vice President and General Manager, Pall Corporation. “There is value that comes from working closely with partners – it allows our team to take a holistic approach to research that addresses core interests and industry challenges.” 

Professor Dan Bracewell, Centre of Excellence academic lead, said: “The bioprocessing sector is expanding in new directions with unprecedented speed to bring to market new classes of medicine designed to deliver profound benefits to human health. To ensure our world leading bioprocessing research at UCL keeps pace with these changes it is imperative we partner closely with those supplying the technology these medicines are manufactured by. This is what the UCL-Pall Biotech Centre of Excellence provides us the opportunity to do.” 

Ranked as a top-ten university worldwide, UCL’s Department of Biochemical Engineering is well known for working on translational research with strategic partners.  

“Working with major pharmaceutical manufacturers or suppliers such as Pall Corporation  allows us to gain real-life insight into the most pressing challenges facing the industry,” adds Professor Gary Lye, Head of the UCL Department of Biochemical Engineering. “It also allows us to leverage UKRI (EPSRC) support for our Centre for Doctoral Training in Bioprocess Engineering Leadership and provides work experience and job opportunities for students on our taught programmes. Through the CoE, Pall are fully integrated with all relevant departmental activities.” 

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