Dr. Vidadi Yusibov, Executive Director of the Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology (CMB), has received international recognition for development of the Center’s plant-based protein expression technology that lead to the construction of first in-its-kind good manufacturing practices (GMP) compliant automated bio-manufacturing plant. Developed by scientists at CMB in Newark, Delaware and Fraunhofer Center for Manufacturing Innovation (CMI) in Boston, the GMP compliant production facility has successfully produced bulk drug substances for use in FDA approved, human clinical trials.

The Joseph von Fraunhofer prize is awarded annually in recognition of outstanding scientific work by Fraunhofer scientists that provide solutions to real-life problems. The practical problem tackled by CMB was the need to produce proteins more safely, economically and faster than through traditional manufacturing methods.

Researchers at CMB developed the methodology to harness the natural protein production machinery of plants and then made the production process commercially viable. With the assistance of engineers at CMI, CMB was able to build a fully automated, GMP compliant manufacturing facility capable of producing proteins for use in a variety of applications, including vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. Yusibov shares the 2013 Josef von Fraunhofer prize with his colleague Dr. Andre Sharon, Executive Director of the Fraunhofer USA Center for Manufacturing Innovation and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Boston University.

“In order to quickly produce large quantities of vaccine material or other protein-based medicines such as antibodies in compliance with cGMP, it was necessary to develop a consistent, repeatable process,” points out Sharon.

According to Dr. Yusibov, “The Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize recognizes the innovation and dedication of the very talented professionals working at CMB and CMI. Our team of scientists, engineers and quality professionals has made an important contribution to human health by bringing this innovative biomanufacturing concept to reality. We are very honored to be recognized by Fraunhofer Gesellschaft for this work.”