FDA Bioprocessing Lab Fellowship
*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
A research opportunity is available in the Office of Pharmaceutical Quality/Office of Biotechnology Products (OBP), Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) located in Silver Spring, Maryland.
This research project leverages state-of-the-art instrumentation for production of a therapeutic protein with real-time bioreactor sampling, protein purification, and drug substance characterization including large molecule critical quality attribute (CQA) analysis. OBP has the capacity to grow six 5L parallel bioreactors with in-depth monitoring of nutrient and waste levels in real-time, cell viability and growth rates, cell respiration, and osmolarity. Basic parameters such as pH and dissolved oxygen are also monitored, and the system has the capacity for near at-line sterile auto-sampling of the six 5L vessels. OBP develops and performs sequential single- and multi-column chromatographic separation methods to optimize purification for different products. OBP models commercial upstream and downstream unit processes to advance risk evaluation and mitigation in continuous manufacturing. OBP has also developed purification chromatography and other process analytical technologies (PAT) that can simultaneously purify antibodies from raw cell culture harvest or purification samples as well as test CQAs like stability and aggregation state. The goal is to integrate these elements into the model production train for real-time therapeutic protein analysis (e.g. glycoforms, product titer, aggregation state, charge profile).
Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant may be involved in the following activities:
- Researching a new model bioprocess system and commercially available PAT tools, engineering runs with a variety of production platforms.
- Helping develop and understand DoE methodology to adjust relative culture conditions of known metabolic factors of glycosylation and/or predict stability factors in drug product formulation development.
- Exploring Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) during product and process development research.
- Training on and exploring the new bioprocessing/analytical equipment: High performance liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry (Q-TOF and QQQ), automated liquid drug formulation analyzer, flow-imaging microscope/ RAMAN spectroscope, UV-vis and variable pathlength spectroscope, modular perfusion-capable micro bioreactors.
- Understanding bioprocessing relevant adventitious microbial agents, including inactivation and clearance studies.
This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and FDA. The initial appointment is for one year, but may be renewed upon recommendation of FDA contingent on the availability of funds. The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. The appointment is full-time at FDA in the Silver Spring, Maryland, area. Participants do not become employees of FDA, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits.