Center for Glycoengineering of Advanced Biologics (CGAB)
Located at the UMD Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR) campus in Rockville, Maryland.
Vision
To inspire transformative discoveries in the field of biotechnology, with a focus on the development of an advanced biomanufacturing platform based on precision glycoengineering, production, and delivery of biologics, including vaccines and therapeutics. This will provide innovative solutions to major scientific and health challenges important to society.
Mission
To conduct groundbreaking research in the field of biotechnology, to optimize the glycosylation signatures of therapeutic proteins and vaccines, to bridge the translational gap between academia and industry, and contribute overall to the innovative research and development infrastructure and economic growth nationwide.
Operating Principles
- Enhancing translational activity to develop commercial applications and the value of products, tools, and/or devices.
- Expanding interdisciplinary research to drive innovation in biomolecular engineering and disease pathways.
- Generating cross-institute collaborations to foster a dynamic research environment.
- Recruiting and training exceptionally talented scientists and staff.
- Fostering external collaborations with industry, academic institutions, and other entities.
- Creating partnerships to maximize the economic impact of the CGAB’s programs.
- Establishing a Center Identity to improve recognition of the CGAB’s unique research capabilities.
Core Scientific Strengths
The expertise of its members and core strengths of its partner units (UMD, UMB, UGA- CCRC) in basic research, including a focus on the effects of glycosylation on the biological function and potency of glycoproteins, structural and computational biology, protein engineering, pathobiology, and bioanalytical and biophysical sciences. The members develop new quantitative and qualitative approaches to measuring and understanding the structure-function relationships of biomolecules to identify and characterize new disease targets.
CGAB has an interdisciplinary team of experts developing and expanding upon the glycoengineered CHO cell (geCHO) protein production platform, product glycoengineering pipelines, optimization of biomolecules targeting significant medical diseases including next generation protein therapeutics, structure-based vaccine design, and macromolecular drug delivery systems. The team draws upon the expertise and infrastructure at UMD-IBBR, UGA-CCRC, NIST Center for Biomanufacturing and Bioanalytical Initiative (CBBI), UMB Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics (UMB-CBT), Maryland Center for Advanced Molecular Analysis (M-CAMA), and other UMD, UMB, and UGA departments with aligned research interests. This team consists of subject matter experts that include CHO-based biomanufacturing, structural biology, computational modeling and engineering, protein purification and bioanalytical characterization, and protein formulation chemistries. The team works in an industry-like, synergistic partnership to address critical research and development questions beyond the ability of any one lab.
Leadership
CGAB is led by Director Thomas Fuerst (Professor, Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, UMD, Director (2013-2020) and Fellow, IBBR), and co-Director Nathan Lewis (GRA Eminent Scholar and Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia). As Directors of the Center, Drs. Fuerst and Lewis are responsible for its scientific direction, fiscal management, and the development of translational science opportunities. Dr. Fuerst has substantial experience in the discovery, analytical characterization, and translational development of vaccines and therapeutics bridging the academic-industry divide, and Dr. Lewis has led the development of complex systems biology models and A.I. to study and engineer metabolism, protein secretion, and glycosylation in mammalian cells used in biomanufacturing.