Brooks Instrument joined the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI) and participated in the organization’s BioFabUSA program.
ARMI, which is a member-based, nonprofit entity whose mission is to expand the U.S. bioeconomy, focuses on making an impact on biomanufacturing and healthcare. Within ARMI, the BioFabUSA program is working on developing a competitive, capable, and innovative cell, tissue, and organ manufacturing ecosystem in the U.S., according to program officials.
Brooks Instrument offers advanced fluid measurement and control technologies used in life science applications, said Joseph Sipka, business development director at the company. He points out that Brooks’ SLA 5800 Series Biotech and SLAMf mass flow controllers are engineered specifically for the biotech industry.
The company joined the ARMI BioFabUSA program to contribute its expertise, product knowledge, and experience in helping biotech equipment manufacturers control the flow of critical process materials and gasses to maximize yield when growing tissue, added Sipka.
The BioFabUSA public-private partnership has more than 170 members representing industry, academia, government, and nonprofit organizations. Through this program, its members seek to transform tissue engineering and regenerative medicine research into an industry that delivers tissues and organs to people in need.
Among several program initiatives, BioFabUSA features working groups where members can discuss challenges, explore innovations, and give direction to the biofabrication industry. Brooks Instrument has targeted the cell culture and harvest technology working group specifically as one area where it believes it can help.
This group has identified a development road map that comprises several topics in which the company notes that it has expertise, including tightening control over raw material, developing equipment and software that enable automation of manual or high-risk process steps, and advance development of automation that augments the capabilities of technicians and operators while minimizing process variability and labor costs.