Bioprocessing Services

Fermentation, protein purification, & cGMP production for Phase-1 clinical trials

Academic Opportunities

Predoctoral Iowa Biotech Fellowship, CBB & NIH fellowships available

Annual Conference

The CBB hosts an annual conference focusing on innovations in the biocatalytic sciences.

CBB Operator Working in the Lab

30 +

Years of Manufacturing Experience

CBB Operator Working in the Lab

265 +

Fellowships Awarded to Students

CBB Operator Working in the Lab

55 +

Associated UI Faculty

Microbial Manufacturing Services

As a microbial manufacturing & bioprocessing facility, our diverse team at the CBB specializes in cGMP and non-cGMP production of protein products for various business, commercial, and research purposes. We have years of experience in developing bioprocesses for scaling up fermentation & protein purification (including difficult to purified inclusion bodies), cGMP manufacturing, cell banking, instrumentation, and more. 

All critical equipment within the facility passed Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT), Installation Qualification (IQ), and Operational Qualification (OQ). This facility is open for audit by clients. 

With many successful campaigns over the years, the CBB has become a trusted partner for our local & international clients alike.

Request Services Now!

We have worked with clients ranging from large pharmaceutical companies to biotech startups of all sizes to virtual companies, academic research labs, and governmental agencies. Our facility produces protein-based products for all sorts of purposes, including Phase-1 clinical trials. The quality of all manufactured products are ensured by our dedicated QA/QC team. 

CBB Operator Working in the Lab

Non-cGMP Facility

Our non-cGMP Facility is fully equipped with advanced technologies & instruments to provide both upstream & downstream process development services to our clients, from strain development to large scale manufacturing. All projects are carried out by full-time staff with years of experience in research & process development. 

CBB Operator Working in the Lab

cGMP Facility

The cGMP Manufacturing Facility at CBB is capable of producing protein products for Phase-1 clinical trials. This cGMP Manufacturing Facility and the Non-cGMP Facility share similar equipment, allowing for efficient process transfer between the two facilities. Our facility strictly follows the 2008 FDA guidance for cGMP manufacturing of materials for Phase-1 investigational drugs. 

"I worked for CBB since they first started with fermentation in their present location! I had previous experiences running 2000 liter fermenters at Solvay Animal Health. I really enjoyed watching the fermenters being delivered and set up. I worked closely with B. Braun company getting them up and running. The team came together over the next couple years. They have all become very experienced operators in the upstream and downstream processing! Everyone works well together and produces high quality product! I have since retired and miss my coworkers."

Educational & Training Opportunities

Every year, the CBB awards multiple fellowships to predoctoral student applicants to support their graduate research in the biocatalytic sciences (see definition). In addition to our own CBB fellowship program, the CBB also administers NIH fellowships. 

Both NIH and CBB fellowships are designed to promote training focusing on the applications of biological & physical sciences to conduct interdisciplinary research in all domains of biotechnology. 

Learn More About Our Fellowships

Most of our fellows have successfully entered the biotech job market right after graduation because they not only graduated with multiple journal publications, but also with industrial internship experience. 

Supportive Faculty Trainers

Our fellows are students working in a CBB-associated faculty's laboratory at The University of Iowa. Faculty help students obtain internships, build their work portfolios, and prepare job application materials. 

Predoctoral graduate students are encouraged to discuss with their major advisors as soon as possible regarding the application process. Students in their 1st and 2nd year are given priority.

Supporting Fellows Beyond Graduation

Once a CBB fellow, always a CBB fellow-From academic to personal to professional development, the CBB & our committed faculty provide continuous guidance & mentorship to our fellows even after their graduation.

 

"Center of Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing was very generous to award to me a 2-year Pre-Doctoral Fellowship in biotechnology for my PhD at UIOWA. Furthermore, I had a great opportunity of visit CBB facility and learn about protein purification services for Phase 1 clinical trial and downstream purification and bioprocessing."

Meet Some of Our Associated Faculty

Office of VP for Research Events

NEA Big Read | Free Book Pick Up promotional image

NEA Big Read | Free Book Pick Up

Monday, January 20, 9:00am to Wednesday, February 12, 2025 5:00pm
Stanley Museum of Art
The Stanley Museum of Art will launch its National Endowment for the Arts Big Read program on Jan. 20, 2025, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This event features a community wide reading of the novel Beloved by Toni Morrison. Pick up a free copy of Beloved at 12 pickup locations across Iowa City between Jan. 20 and Feb. 12, 2025.  Register here to pickup a free copy: https://uiowa.doubleknot.com/event/nea-big-reads-beloved-by-toni-morriso... An email confirmation must be presented to claim a book...
Native American Uses for Plants promotional image

Native American Uses for Plants

Tuesday, January 21, 2025 6:30pm
Swisher Public Library
Join Office of the State Archaeologist's Cherie Haury-Artz at the Swisher Public Library for an educational program, Native American Uses for Plants.

College of Medicine Events

Women In Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour

Monday, January 13, 11:00am to Monday, December 8, 2025 12:00pm
Carver Biomedical Research Building
Join us for the Women in Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour. It is the monthly coffee hour on the second Monday of the month from 11 a.m. to noon in 1289 CBRB. Enjoy coffee, pastries and contribute to the discussion! This is open to ALL — students, staff, postdocs, and faculty interested in promoting women in science. Speakers change monthly. Contact: jessica-tucker@uiowa.edu for details.

Neuroscience & Pharmacology Faculty Candidate Seminar - Dionéia Araldi, MSc, PhD

Tuesday, January 21, 2025 10:30am to 11:30am
Medical Education Research Facility
"Nociceptor plasticity as a key driver of inflammatory and chronic pain" Presented by Dionéia Araldi, MSc, PhD Associate Professional Researcher Dept of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery School of Dentistry UCSF Pain and Addiction Research Center University of California, San Francisco

College of Pharmacy Events

College of Pharmacy PSET Seminar Series: Theodore Randolph, PhD promotional image

College of Pharmacy PSET Seminar Series: Theodore Randolph, PhD

Tuesday, January 21, 2025 11:30am
College of Pharmacy Building
The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics in the College of Pharmacy will host a seminar presented by:  Theodore Randolph, PhD Professor Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado Seminar Title: "Single-shot, Multi-Dose Vaccines Prepared with Atomic Layer Deposition Techniques" All are welcome to attend.
College of Pharmacy PSET Seminar Series: James Byrne, PhD promotional image

College of Pharmacy PSET Seminar Series: James Byrne, PhD

Tuesday, January 28, 2025 11:30am
College of Pharmacy Building
The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics in the College of Pharmacy will host a seminar presented by:  James Bryne, PhD Assistant Professor Department of Radiation Oncology University of Iowa Seminar Title: "Convergence of Molecular Gastronomy and Therapeutic Gases" All are welcome to attend.