UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., Sept. 23, 2017 : Penn State today announced that CSL Behring, a global specialty biotherapeutics leader, has committed USD 4.92 million to Penn State over the next six years to create the multidisciplinary Center of Excellence in Biotechnology, and to revitalize the Shared Fermentation Facility, an engine for collaboration and innovation in biological training and research on the University Park campus.
Housed within the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, the Center of Excellence in Industrial Biotechnology will serve as a unique hub of multidisciplinary teaching and research. The Center will leverage expertise from the Eberly College of Science, and the Colleges of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences at Penn State, while supporting students, faculty and their research. Preparing and educating students to enter the dynamic, rapidly growing field of biotechnology is the Center's primary objective and most important function.The revitalized Shared Fermentation Facility will be located within the newly constructed Agricultural Engineering Building, a 21st Century state-of-the-art facility scheduled for completion in January 2018. The facility will be divided into a fermentation gallery, a downstream processing area, a centrifuge, and batching and cold-space rooms, all nestled among classrooms, conference rooms, and workshop spaces.
With this gift, Penn State will replace outdated equipment with instrumentation that closely matches what is available in today's premier manufacturing settings, elevating Penn State's educational and research capabilities, attracting top students and partner companies.
"We are proud that CSL Behring recognized Penn State's excellence in advancing education and research in the fields of biotechnology and biotherapeutics," said Nick Jones, executive vice president and provost at Penn State. "With the Center of Excellence and updated fermentation lab working together, we can generate a pipeline of experts who will help to address health challenges worldwide, thanks to CSL's tremendous gift."
Globally known for its leading edge R&D and production of therapeutic proteins, CSL Behring's gift will advance Penn State and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as transformative leaders in biotechnology education.
"These are exciting times in biotech, and Penn State's Center of Excellence will help meet the growing need for world-class teaching and research centers," said CSL CEO and Managing Director Paul Perreault. "At CSL we're driven by our promise to protect the health of people with rare and serious diseases around the world. Supporting Penn State's new biotech venture is a natural outgrowth of our promise and of our willingness to consistently foster innovation."
