The Advanced Therapies Unit at IIS La Fe receives funding to launch a project on smart bioprocessing for personalized cell therapies

This sponsorship from Bayer will enable the first steps in exploring and optimizing manufacturing processes for these advanced treatments, facilitating data collection, identification of technological needs, and validation of innovative methodologies.

The introduction of autologous immunological therapies has marked a significant advancement in tackling diseases such as certain types of cancer and autoimmune disorders. However, major challenges remain in improving and fully understanding production processes, particularly regarding efficiency, quality control, and scalability.

Drs. Cristobal Aguilar and Ana Bonora, from the Advanced Therapies Unit, will focus this initial phase of the project on analyzing the current workflow, identifying bottlenecks, and assessing the potential of smart tools such as sensors, automation systems, and data analysis for future integration into the platform.

"The goal of this initial stage is to lay the groundwork for more adaptive and robust bioprocessing, aimed at maximizing production efficiency and reproducibility while optimizing manufacturing costs and timelines," explained Cristóbal Aguilar, Head of Production at the Advanced Therapies Unit.

"In the medium term, the knowledge and improvements incorporated will allow for the continued enhancement of cell therapy production processes, consolidating a culture of quality and continuous improvement in the Advanced Therapies Unit," stated Dr. José Luis Poveda, Manager of ASI Valencia South and the Valencia La Fe Health Department.