Synopsis
TheCellular and Biochemical Engineering(CBE)program is part of theEngineering Biology and Healthcluster, which also includes: 1) theBiophotonicsprogram; 2) theBiosensingprogram; 3) theDisability and Rehabilitation Engineeringprogram; and 4) theEngineering of Biomedical Systemsprogram.
TheCellular and Biochemical Engineeringprogram supports fundamental engineering research that advances understanding of cellular andbiomolecular processes. CBE-funded research may lead to the development of enabling technology for advanced biomanufacturing of therapeutic cells, biochemicals, and biopharmaceuticals, and for otherbiotechnology industrie.
The program encourages highly innovative and potentially transformative engineering research leading to novel bioprocessing and biomanufacturing approaches. Fundamental to many CBE research projects is the understanding of how biomolecules, subcellular systems, cells, and cell populations interact, and how those interactions lead to changes in structure, function, and behavior. A quantitative treatment of problems related to biological processes is considered vital to successful research projects in the CBE program.
Major areas of interest for the program include:
- Metabolic engineering and synthetic biology for biomanufacturing,
- The design of synthetic metabolic components and synthetic cells,
- Microbiome structure, function, maintenance, and design,
- Protein and enzyme engineering, and
- Design of integrated chemoenzymatic systems.
The CBE program also encourages proposals that effectively integrate knowledge and practices from different disciplines while incorporating ongoing research into educational activities.
All proposals should include a description on the potential impact of proposed research on an associated biomanufacturing process.
Proposals whose core innovation involves tissue engineering, organ culture, development of models of healthy or diseased physiology, or design and application of technologies focused on the diagnosis or treatment of disease should be submitted to theEngineering ofBiomedicalSystemsprogram(CBET 5345).