Today, the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) announced 32 coronavirus response projects to multiple organizations across the United States funded through the American Rescue Plan (ARP).
NIIMBL identified projects that will help the nation prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus public health threats. Additionally, six of the projects establish research and development testbeds that will support collaborative research and innovation by the NIIMBL community at the NIIMBL headquarters in Newark, DE.
"To move past the current pandemic and prevent and prepare for future public health threats, we must continue to create the technology, infrastructure, and skills that are needed," shared Kelvin Lee, Institute Director. Lee adds, "This diverse group of technology and workforce development projects addresses multiple public health response capabilities and strengthens the United States' role as a global leader in biopharmaceutical manufacturing."
Specifically, through the ARP funding, NIIMBL selected projects that will:
- Provide testbeds for process development, for next generation manufacturing approaches, and for drug product manufacturing approaches that provide access to industrially relevant equipment and facilities for pre-competitive manufacturing innovation
- Support the development of significantly improved methods for vaccine production, quality, and distribution, including mRNA and other vaccine platforms
- Demonstrate rapid scaling for production of coronavirus antigens and medical countermeasures for variants of concern
- Train a diverse biopharmaceutical manufacturing workforce
- Demonstrate the concept of mobile Good Manufacturing Practices capabilities to support mRNA vaccine and gene therapy production
