The Center's Biofoundry
CSB Biofoundry
A state-of-the-art facility to align experimentation, validation, optimization, and scale-up
The Center’s Biofoundry represents the cutting-edge convergence of biotechnology and automation. Equipped with advanced liquid-handling robotics, high-throughput screening systems, and sophisticated biological characterization platforms, our facility enables rapid and efficient experimentation. The goal is to integrate automated workflows to streamline the design-build-test-learn cycle, accelerating new discoveries and biotechnologies. The facility’s capabilities extend from molecular biology and synthetic biology to cell-free systems and bioprocess engineering, allowing for comprehensive biological synthesis and characterization. Its pilot-scale production infrastructure bridges the gap between laboratory research and industrial application, facilitating the scalable manufacturing of bio-based products. Our Biofoundry supports the intersection of academic research laboratories and synthetic biology startups. Now is the time to scale up your science.
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High-throughput Experiments
Rapid and parallel experimentation accelerates biological discovery & design
The Foundry integrates state-of-the-art automated liquid handling systems and advanced analytical tools, including an Echo 525, two Opentrons Flex robots, Integra VIAFLO, and an Echo 655. Our setup allows for the simultaneous assembly and screening of thousands of samples, enabling researchers to quickly identify optimal biological designs. The facility’s automation minimizes human error and maximizes reproducibility, while its sophisticated data analytics provide deep insights into biological systems.
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Biological Characterization
Detailed assessment of proteins & vesicles enables advanced characterization
The Foundry is equipped with particle and protein characterization technologies, including a NanoAnalyzer and Prometheus Panta. Researchers can utilize the Foundry to perform detailed assessments of gene expression, protein biophysics, and vesicle morphology, ensuring precise and reliable data for synthetic biology applications. By providing in-depth phenotypic analysis and customizable workflows, the Foundry can aid in the optimization and validation of engineered biological systems.
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Pilot-scale Experiments
Pilot-scale offerings bridge the gap between laboratory & industrial application
The Foundry’s services are designed to validate and optimize bioprocesses on a scale that mimics real-world production environments, providing valuable insights into scalability and efficiency. The Foundry is equipped with advanced bioreactors, fermentation systems, and downstream processing units. Researchers and startup partners can utilize these resources to conduct pilot-scale trials of engineered systems to fine-tune of production parameters and assess overall process robustness.
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Our Foundry supports high-throughput experimentation, biological characterization, & pilot scale needs
Foundry Personnel
The Foundry Team
Lauren Clark
Foundry Scientist
Joshua Leonard
Foundry Director
Arthur Prindle
Foundry Co-Director
Contact the Biofoundry
Available for booking on Northwestern’s NUCore website
https://nucore.northwestern.edu/facilities/SynBio
1801 Maple Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201
