Page 33 - Gates-AnnualReport-2016

At the request of one of our customers, we invested in the purchase of a CliniMACS Prodigy® system in early 2016. The CliniMACS Prodigy® is an integrated and enclosed solution for streamlining cell-processing operations—from cell separation through cell culture to formulation of the final product.
During the year, our staff completed the required training and used the system to develop a key analytical assay for one of our clients. By the third quarter of 2016, we had begun process development work for three different cell therapy clients from around the country based in large part on the fact that we have the experience and ability to use the CliniMACS Prodigy® system to develop cell therapies.
At this point, we are one of only a handful of academic manufacturing facilities nationwide with the ability to process cells for CAR-T cell-based immunotherapies for cancer. We purchased a second CliniMACS Prodigy® unit later in 2016 to support growing customer demand for cell therapies and anticipated cGMP production in 2017.
One of the primary justifications for building the Gates Biomanufacturing Facility was to retain and recruit leading principal investigators and clinicians interested in developing cell therapies for clinical trials. In 2016, our recruiting objective became reality as the facility played a crucial role in attracting several high profile Anschutz campus recruits who are introduced in the Top Talent Recruitment section on page 14.
The tremendous progress made at the Gates Biomanufacturing Facility in 2016 would not have been possible without the guidance and financial support of our operating partners:
I have worked for a number of laboratories over my career, including 10 years in quality assurance. I have never worked with a better team or organization. We’ve used cross-functional teams to resolve complex issues, creating an environment of empowerment, inclusion and engagement. I look forward to many years here improving and developing the Gates Biomanufacturing Facility to be one of the finest academic good manufacturing facilities in the US.
-Frances P. Brostrom, manager of quality assurance, Gates Biomanufacturing Facility
Private philanthropy allowed the Gates Center to acquire a second CliniMACS Prodigy® system for use within the Gates Biomanufacturing Facility. State-of-the-art and mobile, this amazing German-made machine has attracted both current and prospective researchers, as well as commercial companies, to the facility. Many thanks to our generous benefactors who have helped us meet this demand.
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