UNE researchers at the heart of cutting-edge biotechnology advancements

Biotechnology researchers at the University of New England and its four university partners have made progress toward quality control in advanced cell and tissue biomanufacturing which could lead to the production and application of a biosensor — a more effective and efficient tool that has the potential to save lives, time, and money. 

As a part of the research collaboration, UNE hosted the second annual BIO-SENS Symposium on July 26 to showcase advances in bioengineering research and student achievement in a nearly $6 million National Science Foundation EPSCoR grant.  More than 80 people attended the event at the Biddeford Campus, including faculty and students from universities across the U.S, in addition to the UNE team and industry representatives. 

"The symposium brought all of the efforts and arms of the project together in one place and to really celebrate what our students have done,” said Eva Rose Balog, Ph.D., associate professor in the UNE School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences and organizer of the event. The event featured speakers and panelists from industry and academia as well as student posters and presentations. 

BIO-SENS, which stands for Bio-Inspired On-demand Strategies for Engineering Nanostructured Sensors, is a collaboration led by the University of New Hampshire, with partners at UNE, Auburn University, the University of Maine, and University of Wyoming. The project brings together researchers from the different universities to develop the components of a sensor that will be integrated into a single device to support quality control in biomanufacturing and biotechnology. 

“Industries need quality control,” Balog said, explaining that, when consumers purchase products, like Tylenol, there are standards that must be met for them to be sold. “It’s the same for stem cell therapeutics and regenerative medicine. This is what we're trying to do." 

The project envisions the creation of "smart" bioreactors that can continuously adapt conditions to ensure optimal cell growth, thereby yielding more products that are superior quality, Balog explained.  

Balog is co-principal investigator and spearheading one of the four BIO-SENSE initiatives with an interdisciplinary team of researchers led by Jeffrey Halpern, Ph.D., associate professor of chemical engineering at UNH and principal investigator on the grant; Robert Pantazes, Auburn University; Caleb Hill, University of Wyoming; and Economist Andrew Crawley, University of Maine, who develops regional economic forecasts. 

“The sensor will offer real-time measurements of biomolecules produced during cellular processes,” Balog said. "Our sensor design makes the recognition elements out of a protein molecule. The actual molecule involved in binding, physically associating with the target analyte, is made of protein, and UNE makes the proteins.”  

By closely monitoring specific biomolecules' presence and quantities, the team aims to optimize cellular manufacturing processes, thereby improving the overall quality of biotechnology products. Additionally, biosensors hold the potential for assisting with organ transportation, Balog said. The sensor could provide crucial real-time data on specific biomarkers, aiding in determining organ health and viability during transit.  

Balog said she is excited about the collaboration's potential impact and underscores the active involvement of undergraduate students in significant research contributions at UNE, a role often reserved for graduate-level researchers. 

“The undergraduates are really the engines of the research, and it's just such a privilege to work with people who are excited about what we're doing,” she said.  

The research will also help grow skilled biotechnology workforces in New Hampshire, Alabama, Maine, and Wyoming through academic and industry partnerships and internship opportunities. Biomanufacturing is a growing sector, and the economic forecasts produced by BIO-SENS will contribute vital information to decision-makers in these industries, Balog said. 

“This work is extremely collaborative and applied,” Balog said. “The symposium was a way for researchers, students, and industry partners to communicate, make sure the sensor fits the needs of the industry, and to come up with creative solutions together.” 

UNE's role in BIO-SENS is an opportunity for the University to play a key role in shaping Maine's growing biotechnology landscape. 

"We're very much a player in whatever's happening next in this space," Balog said. “There's never been a better time to be doing bioscience in Maine. I think we've hit it at this incredible point where there's an influx of attention and resources ... It just feels like it's a special moment for the region."