From Research to Real-World Impact

McMaster Students Explore Cutting-Edge Bioreactor Processes for Monoclonal Antibodies

As part of a long-standing cooperation, two students from McMaster University recently joined the Sartorius site in Bohemia, New York, to dive into bioreactor processes for the production of monoclonal antibodies. Discover how the two aspiring researchers experienced the mentorship with Sartorius experts and explored the fusion of science and industry during their visit.

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This September, Cindy Shu, a bachelor's student in chemical and biological engineering, and Claire Velikonja, a PhD student in chemical engineering, spent two weeks in Bohemia. Their main interest was the continuous production of monoclonal antibodies in bioreactors. And for a very good reason: Since 2013, McMaster University, located in Hamilton, Canada, has been running the Biointerfaces Institute (BI), a collaborative, shared environment designed to connect researchers and industrial partners.
 

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BI is playing a key role in the country's efforts to make the production of monoclonal antibodies more economical. For this goal, the university is equipping the institute with bioreactors and automation tools that enable a more efficient production. And both Cindy and Claire want to contribute to this endeavor.
 

A win-win situation

Not only did the two motivated science students learn how to set up and operate bioreactors, the experience of working alongside Sartorius researchers also opened their eyes to the commercial side of a research and development laboratory. “It was really a unique mentorship to learn from this group of people,” says Cindy. “They welcomed us with open arms and had a lot of trust in us to give us a hands-on experience from the very first day.”
 

Thanks to the time we spent with such an extremely knowledgeable team at Sartorius, we now have first-hand knowledge of how to set up and operate these bioreactors.

Claire Velikonja, PhD student in chemical engineering at McMaster University

For Clint Kukla, Manager Applications & Testing at Sartorius the feeling of gratitude is mutual: “It has been rewarding to welcome the McMaster students to the Sartorius team. Their passion for research and expertise in bioprocessing have contributed significantly to the success of our collaboration.”
 

By fostering strong, positive connections with tomorrow’s leaders, we believe we can drive progress together, creating value that benefits the future of science, our industry and the careers of emerging talent.

Clint Kukla, Manager Applications & Testing at Sartorius

Clint and the product development team aim to inspire the next generation of researchers and industrialists - with their own actions and Sartorius' technologies that simplify and accelerate drug development, reduce production costs and lessen environmental impact.