NIBRT, Kerry Partner on Cell-Culture Media Research

On Aug. 28, 2019, National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) and Kerry announced that they will be collaborating on the chemical identification of bioactive components in hydrolysates, and in particular, plant-derived hydrolysates that have been used for many years as food additives and nutraceuticals in media and feed formulation for the biopharmaceutical industry.

The collaboration aims to identify markers that could be used to identify growth and/or protein-producing promoters/inhibitors in hydrolysates, which could eventually lead to the formulations of fully chemically defined media (CDM) for use in biopharma manufacturing.

The collaboration, which is funded by Enterprise Ireland, will be led by Professor Michael Butler, NIBRT, and will include two newly appointed post-doctoral researchers. “We are very pleased to be able to collaborate with Kerry on a research program that will enhance the potential for cell growth and productivity of bioprocesses that lead to the biomanufacture of important therapeutic proteins,” Butler stated in a press release.

“As market leaders in hydrolysates, this was a natural progression for us to understand hydrolysates at a granular level. This project takes one step towards scientifically understanding and defining the ‘art of’ hydrolysate making,” said Chaya Kataru, Kerry’s global R&D director, Cell Nutrition, in the press release.

“Such collaborations are the future in generating more robust processes and products that benefit the industry as a community and ultimately patients being catered by our biopharma industry,” added Hans Huttinga, Kerry’s vice-president, Business Development Cell Nutrition.

Source: NIBRT