USTAR forms new team
LOGAN – A group of Utah State University researchers in the colleges of science and engineering have joined together to create the Synthetic Biomanufacturing Center. The center is funded by the Utah Science, Technology and Research Initiative (USTAR) and will focus on using the chemical makeup present in single cell organisms to transform raw materials into environmentally friendly products such as low cost bioplastics, biodiesel, light energy and pharmaceuticals.
USU recruited Leland G. Foster as interim executive director of the team. Foster previously worked for Thermo Fisher Scientific where he served in several capacities, including long-time president of the Logan, Utah, division (formerly HyClone Laboratories); and as chief science officer of Fisher Scientific International prior to its merger with Thermo Electron Corporations. He also served for several years as chief executive officer of Perbio Science, AB, a publically-traded Swedish corporation and, at the time, the parent company of HyClone. Foster received a doctorate in biology from USU and a bachelor’s in microbiology from Weber State University.
“I am pleased to join the Synthetic Biomanufacturing Team to facilitate the rapid commencement of activities and to contribute years of experience in guiding the commercial relevance of our efforts,” Foster said.
Other Synthetic Biomanufacturing Team members include existing USU faculty Daryll B. DeWald, cell biology and biology department head in the College of Science; H. Scott Hinton, electrical engineering and dean of the College of Engineering; Jon Y. Takemoto, microbial biology and professor of biology in the College of Science; Ronald C. Sims, biological engineering and department head of biological and irrigation engineering in the College of Engineering; and Berry J. Treat, USU Technology Commercialization office specialist.
Building on advances in synthetic biology, single cell organisms have the possibility of producing high-value compounds to help solve some of the world’s most pressing health, agricultural and energy problems. The new USTAR team will work to create synthetic biomanufacturing environments to produce new, lower cost and safer, natural products, pharmaceuticals, biopolymers, specialty chemicals, agrochemicals and renewable fuels.
“Bioscientific advances have reached a point where it is now possible to design living cells to produce things that previously could only be made in chemical factories,” said Takemoto. “We want to take advantage of these new capabilities.”
The center will receive a $7.3 million budget over five years from USTAR and will first focus on identifying and creating the cell platforms best suited for biomanufacturing environments. The team will then create methods to allow the organisms to use both solar and chemical energy to power the biomanufacturing process which will secrete or excrete the desired naturally synthesized product. The synthesized product will then be used to create things, such as a renewable fuel or pharmaceuticals that can then be moved into the marketplace.
“Leland Foster will bring invaluable assistance to the team in terms of collaboration between the university and the needs of the commercial world,” said Ned M. Weinshenker, USU’s vice president for strategic ventures and economic development. “The relationships forged by Leland both on and off campus will be important for the vitality of the project and will provide economic development in Cache Valley and the state of Utah.”
Passed in the 2006 state legislative session, USTAR is designed to help Utah keep pace in scientific research and technological advancement – directly translating to a stronger economy, higher-paying jobs, increased tax revenue and better quality of life, said USU Vice President for Research Brent Miller. The USTAR Economic Development Initiative leverages the proven success of Utah’s research universities in creating and commercializing innovative technologies.
For more information on USTAR, visit ustar.usu.edu.