BM923 Bioprocessing
Individual report (80% of your mark for the course)
A biotechnology company is considering diversifying its portfolio and developing a new bioprocess to produce _________________________ (your choice of product). Think big: can you produce something that will save the planet/contribute to the UN’s sustainable development goals/make people happy?
This company already works on your specific organism and has all of the reagents, facilities, licenses, etc. required for work with this cell type. Your job is to identify a valuable product that can be made using these cells and outline the key factors in the bioprocess. (Everyone in your group will be working on the same organism, but you each must choose different products for your individual reports.)[unique_solution]
The company has hired you as a biotechnology consultant to produce a report (note: not an essay!) on what needs to be considered by the company. You must provide enough detailed, specific information about the bioprocess, costings, market interest, etc. to allow the executive board to decide whether they will begin to work on this new bioprocess. (Try to convince the board to choose your process instead of the others proposed by your group!)
Using the expertise you have gained during this course, write a short report about your proposed bioprocess (max. 2,000 words).
You must include:
- A brief introduction: key information about the product and bioprocess (Why is it important? What will be the benefits to the company/humanity/the planet?)
- Bioprocess design: inoculum, medium, bioreactor model, downstream processing, etc. (Be sure to justify why your organism and bioprocess is the best for this particular product!)
- Quality systems: monitoring, GMP (How will you ensure the purity and efficacy of your product? What other quality control systems are needed?)
- Market interest and competition: Why is your proposed process better than current ones used to make this product?
- Costings: Is your process cost-effective? How will it benefit the company economically?
- References: Be sure to support your proposal with evidence from the literature (cite similar bioprocesses, strain development, market interest, etc. to show that your proposal is feasible.) Include citations in the text where appropriate and a correctly formatted list of references.
Use your best scientific judgement as you decide what information is essential for the company’s executive board to make this decision and what is the best way to format your report and present your conclusions.
DUE Monday 2/10 (at noon). Submissions must be made via MyPlace.
Feedback within two weeks (via MyPlace).