WHAT:
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) will hold the 3rd Annual Advanced Biomanufacturing Symposium, a two-day event that will explore emerging technologies, trends, and processes in the biomanufacturing field. Organized by WPI life sciences and bioengineering faculty members and the university’s Biomanufacturing Education and Training Center (BETC), the symposium will bring together industry professionals and academic researchers working with new technologies, processes, and business practices that will have a significant impact on biomanufacturing in the near future.
This year’s themes include advancements in protein therapeutics, cell and tissue therapies, and emerging technologies. The first day of the symposium will focus on protein therapeutics, or proteins produced through biomanufacturing from living cells, and used in healthcare practices to battle human diseases. An example of a protein with therapeutic application is insulin, which is used by diabetics to control blood glucose levels.
During the second day of the symposium, attendees will examine cell therapies, which is a cell byproduct found in therapeutics. These therapies are used to repair damaged tissue, such as in wound healing and blood vessel engineering. Though each day pinpoints a different topic, the end goals of each panel and discussion are the same: how emerging technologies in each can be developed, how each process can be sped up, and how products from each can be made more cost effective for hospitals and other healthcare systems.
WHO:
Speakers will include Jay Ash, secretary of Housing and Economic Development, Commonwealth of Massachusetts; Bruce Levine, PhD, Barbara and Edward Netter Professor in Cancer Gene Therapy, Center for Advanced Cell Therapies, University of Pennsylvania Perlman School of Medicine; and Joanne Beck, executive vice president, pharmaceutical development and operations, Celgene.
WHERE/WHEN:
Rubin Campus Center, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 100 Institute Road, Worcester, Mass.
Monday, April 9, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- 8 a.m. - Opening remarks by Kamal Rashid, director of BETC and research professor
- 8:45 a.m. – Keynote presentation by Bruce Levine, PhD, Barbara and Edward Netter Professor in Cancer Gene Therapy, Center for Advanced Cell Therapies, University of Pennsylvania Perlman School of Medicine
- 9:30 – Morning sessions on advancements in protein therapeutics
- 11 a.m. – Panel discussion: Accelerating Innovations
Moderator: Bob Coughlin, President MassBio Council
Lynne Frick, BioGuides LLC
Willem Kools, PhD, VP Global Head Technology Management, MilliporeSigma
Sadettin Ozturk, PhD, Deputy Director, Process Development, MassBiologics, University of Massachusetts Medical School
David Sullivan, Senior Director, Bioprocess R&D Development Pilot Plants and Next Generation MFG Initiative, Pfizer
- Noon – Lunch, networking, poster presentations
- 1 p.m. – Afternoon sessions on emerging technologies in biomanufacturing
- 3:30 p.m. - Panel Discussion: Regulatory Issues and Driving the Cost of Biologics Down
Moderator: Tim Murray, President and CEO, Worcester Chamber of Commerce
Mani Krishnan, VP, Technical Services and Scientific Affairs, Pall Corporation
Michael McDonald, Manufacturing Site Director, Manufacturing Operations, AbbVie Bioresearch Center
Richard McFarland, PhD, MD, Chief Regulatory Officer, Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI)
Claudia Zylberberg. PhD, Chief Executive Officer, Akron Biotech
Tuesday, April 10, 2018, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- 8:30 a.m. – Keynote presentation by Joanne Beck, PhD, executive vice president, Pharmaceutical Development and Operations, Celgene
- 9:15 – Morning sessions on cell therapies
- 11 a.m. - Panel Discussion: Recent Approaches for Cell and Tissue Therapy Process Development
Moderator: Travis McCready, President and CEO, Mass Life Sciences Center
Tom Bollenbach, PhD, Chief Technology Officer, Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI)
Geoff Hodge, Chief Technical Officer, UNUM Therapeutics
Julie Murrell, PhD, Head of Cell Therapy Bioprocessing, MilliporeSigma
Greg Russotti, PhD, VP, Technical Operations, Celgene Cellular Therapies
- Noon – Lunch, networking, poster presentations
- 1 p.m. – Afternoon sessions on tissue therapies
- 4 p.m. – Concluding remarks
The media can attend, and opportunities are available to sit in on panels/discussions and meet WPI faculty experts.
Link to the full agenda can be found on the BETC website.
NOTE: Reporters interested in attending the event should contact Jessica Messier at 508-831-5937 or jmmessier@wpi.edu.
