70NANB24H164

Purpose: The purpose of this grant is to support the advancement of bioscience research activities at the Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR), a joint research institute between the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD), the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), located on the University of Maryland Shady Grove campus in Rockville, MD.

Activities to be performed: The research supported at IBBR aims to advance biotechnology, biomedical, and biopharmaceutical research including in the areas of structural biology, physical biochemistry, bioanalytical chemistry, computational biology, biomolecular and cellular engineering, and biomanufacturing.

Methods of advancement in these areas include the development of measurement methods for assessing the structure, dynamics and interactions of proteins and nucleic acids important to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries that support the development of standards that can be used to benchmark and harmonize these measurements.

IBBR implements its core technical strengths through IBBR Research Commons, world-class instrumentation facilities that are fully accessible to all partners and collaborators, in the areas of structural biology; bioanalytical & biophysical chemistry; bioprocess, cell engineering & biomolecular labeling lab (BL2); and biocomputing, modeling, AI/ML.

The IBBR Research Commons and associate activities will be enhanced by the establishment of a new research center: the Center for Biomeasurement and Biomanufacturing Innovation (CBBI).

CBBI will be focused on advancing measurement technologies and establishing reference standards and data that improve and accelerate biomanufacturing of biotechnology products, including vaccines, therapeutics, and other modern medicines utilizing new biomanufacturing testbed facilities.

Lastly, IBBR will continue to invest in the future workforce through the IBBR Postdoctoral Program (IPP) and student/intern training through collaborative projects that include therapeutics and vaccine research, modern medicines and biopharmaceuticals, advanced biomanufacturing, and engineering biology.

Expected outcomes: The IBBR is expected to realize 1) a world-class research center for advancing biomolecular measurement science and standards that drive discovery in bioscience and biomedical research; 2) a unique space for interdisciplinary open innovation and the exchange of ideas in state-of-the-art biomolecular measurements and standards development, fostering innovation in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals and vaccine development; 3) a national high-technology bioscience leader by serving as a hub for collaboration between federal, industry, regulatory, and academic scientists; and 4) an institute where education and career development are highly valued and achieved, mentoring the next generation scientists from the IBBR to enter the workforce and benefit society.

Intended beneficiaries: The research, technology, and standards developed by the IBBR will support the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries and regulatory agencies by providing innovative technical solutions that help to accelerate development, regulatory approval and manufacturing of pharmaceutical and vaccine products thereby allowing U.S. patients timely and greater access to these life-saving medicines.

Subrecipient activities: The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) is a joint collaborator with University of Maryland, College Park (UMD), and NIST at IBBR.

College Park University Of Maryland

NOT APPLICABLE

11.609 - Measurement and Engineering Research and Standards

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) [DOC]

Suitland, Maryland 20752-5141 United States

Single Zip Code

2024-NIST-RFA-IBBR-01

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 79% from $7,897,067 to $14,136,176.