Research in Bioprocessing

For almost two decades our colleagues in the life and medical sciences have pioneered the development of biotechnology. As this field has matured, scientists have dramatically increased the rate at which new discoveries are made and useful products are synthesized at laboratory scales. However, the ability to produce these materials in sufficient quantity and bring them to market at a reasonable price has lagged behind the ability to create them. This has generated a need for trained personnel who can take these new products safely and economically from bench-top through industrial-scale production.

To help meet this need, the Department of Chemical Engineering at WSU instituted a research focus in bioprocessing. Our Bioprocess team has research interests starting with large-scale fermentation and biosensors to downstream processing. This is one of the few engineering programs in the Northwest, which covers bioprocessing from bench to fermenter to final purification.

Research efforts in this department have led to novel bioreactors which can efficiently cultivate and sustain large numbers of viable, prolific cells in suspension culture. The research in bioseparations helps bridge the gap between the bioreactor, which produces the desired compounds, and the consumer, who requires these substances in ultrapure form. To better monitor these bioprocesses, a cross-disciplinary effort to develop novel biosensors designed to detect specific molecules is also active.

Research Areas in Bioprocessing
Biosensors / Medical Diagnostics
Bioseparations
Plant Cell Culture


Supporting Courses
Existing courses within the Chemical Engineering Department that support research in bioprocessing include Biochemical Engineering, Biological Separations, and Biomedical Engineering. Ongoing research includes collaborative projects with WSU's College of Veterinary Medicine, the Department of Zoology, the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, the School of Molecular Biosciences, and the Institute of Biological Chemistry.

Support
The bioprocess group receives financial support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as well as equipment, materials, and funding from companies which include Varian Instrument Co., Union Oil, Fluke Electronics, Instrumentation Labs, Tektronix, DuPont, and Intel.

NIH Fellowships
In 1989, WSU was one of the first nine universities to be awarded an NIH Predoctoral training fellowship grant, largely due to the combined efforts of the Biochemistry and Chemical Engineering Departments. Our program is designed to train doc-toral students in chemical engineering and the life sciences for careers in biotechnology. For chemical engineers, this program offers a core biotechnology course taught by various members of the participating faculty in addition to the departmental courses in bioprocessing, interdisciplinary hands-on training via laboratory rotations at WSU, and an internship of 3-6 months duration in the biotechnology industry. Participating entities include Genentech, ZymoGenetics, Amgen, Somatogen, Bristol Myers-Squibb and the Naval Research Laboratory.

This program is supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Qualified candidates are eligible to enter this program as NIH Fellows.

PARTICIPATING FACULTY
Neil Ivory, Professor
509 335-7716

James Lee, Professor
509 335-5252

Brent Peyton, Assistant Professor
509 335-4002

Bernie J. Van Wie, Professor
509 335-4103