Biomanufacturing

Biomanufacturing is a type of manufacturing or biotechnology that utilizes biological systems to produce commercially important biomaterials and biomolecules for use in medicines, food and beverage processing, and industrial applications. Biomanufacturing products are recovered from natural sources, such as blood, or from cultures of microbes, animal cells, or plant cells grown in specialized equipment. The cells used during the production may have been naturally occurring or derived using genetic engineering techniques. There are thousands of biomanufacturing products on the market today. Some examples of general classes are listed below: A partial listing of unit operations utilized during biomanufacturing includes the following:Equipment and facility requirements are dictated by the product(s) being manufactured. Process equipment is typically constructed of stainless steel or plastic. Stainless steel equipment can be cleaned and reused. Some plastic equipment is disposed of after a single use. Skilled professionals are required for positions throughout the life cycle of a biomanufacturing product, which includes:Several academic institutions have developed curricula and built facilities to provide education and training in biomanufacturing to students from community colleges, universities, and/or industry. NCBioImpact, established in 2004, is an example of a comprehensive state-wide training network. Member institutions Golden LEAF Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center (BTEC) at North Carolina State University, (BRITE) at North Carolina Central University, and North Carolina Community College System’s BioNetwork operate multidisciplinary centers dedicated to workforce development for the biomanufacturing industry.