Our Center

The Marcus Center of Excellence for Cell Biomanufacturing, housed at Georgia Tech, is comprised of a team of researchers that provide end-to-end R&D solutions for the whole spectrum of cell manufacturing needs.

This Center brings together stakeholders from across disciplines to:

Address complex demands of therapeutic cell manufacturing
Ensure processes and products are highly controlled, well-characterized, efficient, reproducible, and consistently high-quality
Focus on cell therapy collaborations across the United States

The Georgia Research Alliance and Georgia Tech lead the nationwide consortium (NIST/AmTech Cell Manufacturing Consortium) on cell characterization and manufacturing while developing the national roadmap for the United States to become a world leader in this space. This roadmap forms the basis of research and development activities for the Marcus Center of Excellence for Cell Biomanufacturing.

Vision

We bring clinicians, industry researchers, and product developers together with scientists and engineers of multiple disciplines to tackle the challenge of highly controlled, well-characterized, efficient, reproducible, and high-quality therapeutic cell manufacturing.

Who should work with us?

Close-up of a microscope objective lens used to examine cells for biomedical and cell manufacturing research.

Anyone looking to:

Characterize their cell product and understand the attributes that contribute to efficacy and safety
Improve their cell culture efficiency
Develop or incorporate new sensors for quality assessment Increase automation of manufacturing and analytical processes
Optimize their supply chain or refine their distribution strategy

Illustration of cells with molecular structures representing cell biology and regenerative medicine research.

Examples of potential collaborators:

Clinical Researchers
Pharmaceutical and Cell Therapy Companies
Biotechnology and Equipment Development Companies
Specialty Chemical and Biologics Supply Companies

Making Cell Therapies More Accessible

COLLABORATE

with clinical partners

Researcher analyzes cultured cells using advanced imaging technology to support rapid cell validation.

INNOVATE

rapid validation of cells

INVENT

new tools and technologies

Researchers in cleanroom suits use microscopes, computers, and laboratory equipment to analyze samples in a research facility.

ENABLE

low-cost production

Researchers in lab coats, gloves, masks, and safety goggles review test samples and data beside a laptop in a laboratory.

TRANSLATE

clinical applications

Students receive hands-on laboratory instruction, preparing the next generation of the cell manufacturing workforce.

TRAIN

a strong, talented workforce

Who Are We?

The Marcus Center of Excellence for Cell Biomanufacturing (The Marcus Center) provides end-to-end R&D solutions for the whole spectrum of cell manufacturing needs. From Critical Quality Attributes (CQAs) identification to new Process Analytical Technologies (PATs) and process development, let The Marcus Center be your partner.

Floor plan of the Marcus Center for Cell Manufacturing showing the entrance, viewing gallery, testing areas, analytical laboratory, ISO 7 cleanrooms, wash areas, lockers, and support spaces.

Facilities

4,000 sq.ft. of BSL 2 Laboratory space
ISO 8 Analytics Laboratory
Isolated ISO 7 suites
In-line analytical testing capability
Workforce training

Research Expertise

Analytics and Characterization
Monitoring and Sensing
Process Development and Validation
Supply Chain and Logistics
Culture Optimization
Transduction and Transfection Technologies

Accelerate Application and Predictability

Diagram showing research and clinical partners providing cells with varying inputs for analysis.

Characterize

Comprehensive assessment of clinical cells can provide insight to unique multivariate CQAs.

Single-Cell Sequencing
High Throughput Analyses
Epigenetics
Bioanalytical Mass Spectometry
Flow Cytometry
High Content Imaging
Lipidomics and Secretomics
Biophysical Assessment

Diagram showing integration of multiple cell analyses, including surface markers, proteomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics, exosomes, epigenomics, and biophysical properties.

Correlate and Confirm

Advanced analytical models identify relationships between characterization data and clinical or surrogate performance outcomes to identify CQAs to monitor during production.

Predict

Big data analysis of comprehensive characterization and performance outcomes build predictive models of efficacy and safety.

Advancing Quality and Reliability

Validate potency and safety of manufactured cells
Monitor quality throughout manufacture
Enable closed-loop automation

Projects are initiated with input from characterization outcomes to develop new analytical methods and process optimization approaches. As projects move from proof of principle to proof of concept, they are integrated into GMP-like processes in the controlled Marcus Center facility.