NRC — Cell Culture Pilot Plant
Montréal, QC, Canada
Biologics and vaccine production facility in Montreal
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|noCondition
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|openingDateNovember 14, 2019
grant_single|financingType
Researchers And Facilities
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Health care and social assistance
grant_single|grantors
- National Research Council Canada (NRC)
- Government of Canada
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|open
grant_single_labels|preview
Fee-for-service cell culture pilot plant offering development and scale-up for the production of biologics and vaccines using CHO, HEK 293 and other animal cell expression systems.
grant_single_labels|projects
There are eligible projects and activities for this grant. The activities include:
- Development and scale-up of batch, fed-batch or perfusion cell culture processes up to 500 L scale for biologics production
- Scale-up of viral production and purification processes
- Scale-up of transient transfection processes
- Development of cell culture media and feeding strategies for process optimization
- In-process assay development
- Customized, hands-on training on bioreactor operation up to 500 L scale
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$220,000
Development of custom cell culture media for the optimization of an antibody production process
$200,000
Conducting hands-on training for bioreactor operation up to 500 L scale
$250,000
Developing a 500 L scale bioreactor process for vaccine production using CHO cells
$270,000
Development and scale-up of a perfusion cell culture process for biologics production
$280,000
Optimization of transient transfection processes for the production of therapeutic proteins
$300,000
Scale-up of viral production processes for gene therapy applications
grant_single_labels|admissibility
Eligibility criteria:
- Canadian biotechnology companies
- Businesses involved in pilot-scale production and purification of biologics, viral vectors, and vaccines
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
This program is ideal for biotechnology companies involved in the pilot-scale production and purification of recombinant proteins, viral vectors, and vaccines. It is particularly suited for those aiming to optimize cGMP-compatible bioprocesses and work towards a robust Canadian biomanufacturing sector. The program supports the scale-up process using advanced bioprocessing services and equipment.
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
The grant supports projects focused on advancing bioprocessing services and equipment for the production of biologics and vaccines. It emphasizes process development and scale-up for various cell culture systems and optimization strategies.
- Development and scale-up of batch, fed-batch, or perfusion cell culture processes up to 500 L scale for biologics production.
- Scale-up of viral production and purification processes.
- Scale-up of transient transfection processes.
- Development of cell culture media and feeding strategies for process optimization.
- In-process assay development.
- Customized, hands-on training on bioreactor operation up to 500 L scale.
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
The grant covers expenses directly associated with process development and scale-up in biologics and vaccines production.
- Development and optimization of cell culture processes and feeding strategies.
- Scale-up of viral production and purification processes.
- Costs related to in-process assay development.
- Customized training on bioreactor operation.
- Bioprocess transfer to a contract manufacturing organization (CMO).
- Use of cell culture equipment and facilities for production and purification.
- Product concentration and purification expenses.
- Monitoring and control strategy development costs.
grant_single_labels|criteria
Grant applications will be assessed based on key criteria including scientific excellence, feasibility, impact, and alignment with the objectives of the Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre.
- Scientific excellence
- Feasibility of the proposed project
- Potential impact of the project
- Alignment with the objectives of the Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre
grant_single_labels|register
Here are the steps to submit an application for this grant:
- Step 1: Contact the Research Centre
- Reach out to Martin Loignon, the Team Leader for Cell Culture Scale-Up, to express your interest in the services offered by the NRC’s Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre.
- Obtain detailed information about the application process, requirements, and any supporting documentation needed.
- Step 2: Prepare Application
- Compile a comprehensive project proposal detailing your specific needs for process development and scale-up using the Centre’s services.
- Include objectives, expected outcomes, and how your project aligns with the NRC’s capabilities in biologics and vaccine production.
- Gather any necessary supporting documents like technical specifications and financial plans.
- Step 3: Submit Application
- Follow the instructions provided by the contact at the Research Centre to submit your proposal and supporting documents.
- Ensure all documents are complete and submitted before any communicated deadline.
- Step 4: Verification
- Wait for a confirmation from the NRC acknowledging receipt of your application.
- Ensure your contact details are correct for any follow-up questions or requests for additional information.
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
Here are additional relevant details for this grant:
- The NRC’s Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre offers specific expertise in developing high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and cell-based assays.
- The facility enables the transition from bench-scale process optimization to up to 500 L scale production.
- The team provides customized, hands-on training on bioreactor operation up to a 500 L scale.
- The cell culture pilot plant functions as an ideal facility for emerging technologies and facilitates transfer of optimized bioprocesses to a CMO.
- The NRC owns proprietary versions of the HEK293 cell line, namely HEK293SF-3F6 and HEK293-6E.
Apply to this program
Unlock Cutting-Edge Bioprocessing Solutions with NRC's Cell Culture Pilot Plant
The NRC's Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre offers advanced bioprocessing services and equipment to ensure top-quality biologics and vaccines. With state-of-the-art facilities and expert personnel, the center specializes in the scale-up and optimization of animal cell expression systems in support of Canada's biotechnology innovation.
Exploring the Advanced Capabilities of NRC's Cell Culture Pilot Plant
The NRC's Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre stands at the forefront of bioprocessing innovation, particularly in the realm of biologics and vaccine production. Situated in Montreal, the center is renowned for its cell culture pilot plant, which provides critical services and infrastructure that empower biotechnology enterprises to elevate their research and production capabilities. This facility's distinctive offerings encompass the development and scale-up of cell cultures using several animal expression systems, notably the CHO and proprietary HEK293SF-3F6 and HEK293-6E cell lines.
One of the plant's major strengths is its holistic range of services which include batch, fed-batch, and perfusion culture processes scalability up to the 500-liter level, catering to the dynamic needs of biologics production. This extensive scale-up capacity is crucial for biotechnology companies aiming to transition from bench-scale research to robust commercial production strategies. The skilled team at the NRC is adept in optimizing cell culture media and devising feeding strategies tailored to boost yield efficiency, a critical factor in the biomanufacturing pipeline.
The pilot plant's services extend beyond standard process development; it includes specialized assay development that facilitates smooth progression from small-scale laboratory processes to large-scale production. Bioreactor operation training is another pivotal service offered, ensuring that client teams can efficiently manage these intricate systems and are well-versed in bioprocess nuances up to the 500-liter scale.
Beyond its technical expertise, the NRC's cell culture pilot plant is pivotal in fostering industry collaboration and development. It functions as an incubator for the Canadian biomanufacturing sector, enabling technology transfer and providing links to Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs). This essential role enhances the nation’s biotech landscape, promoting a thriving and interconnected ecosystem necessary for sustainable growth in health therapeutics.
State-of-the-art equipment underpins the plant’s offerings. It boasts containment levels 1 and 2 with specialized suites that cater to a variety of production needs — from media preparation to final product purification. This level of segmentation ensures high standards of contamination control and process specificity. Additionally, cell separation devices, inclusive of continuous centrifugation systems and acoustic filtration units, provide flexible options for complex purification tasks, accommodating throughputs ranging from 20 L/hr to 200 L/d for comprehensive process demands.
The advancement in purification technologies is further supported by continuous ultracentrifugation systems and tangential flow filtration units, alongside multiple chromatography columns, ensuring that the final product is concentrated and purified with exceptional fidelity. These technological advantages allow for the mimicking of existing processes or the development of entirely new ones with heightened precision.
Choosing to work with the NRC’s cell culture pilot plant opens pathways to significant innovation in biologics, where businesses can leverage the combination of a highly experienced team, versatile equipment, and the plant’s integrative approach towards process development. The overarching goal is to not only support immediate project needs but also to catalyze the expansion of Canadian capabilities in health therapeutics, cementing the nation’s position as a leader in global biotechnology research and production. Companies aiming to harness these resources are thus well-equipped to contribute meaningfully to advances in health sciences, ultimately enhancing public health outcomes at both a national and international level.
