Institute of Animal Cell Technology and Systems Biology

Mammalian cells are the most important gateway to existing and new medical treatments such as vaccine production, gene therapy as well as tissue- and stem cell engineering. Of utmost importance is their function as vehicle to express therapeutic recombinant proteins such as antibodies, growth factors, hormones, cytokines, and more recently, fusion proteins and other muteins.

The use of mammalian cells for biotechnology requires a deep understanding of their complex biology along with the cell- and protein-engineering, which is necessary for large scale industrial applications. During the last years cell culture technology has progressed from a predominantly experimental, empiric and descriptive discipline towards a model and theory-based science. These achievements are realized by emerging disciplines like functional genome analysis, bioinformatics and protein modelling accompanied by bioprocess modelling and high-end protein analytics.

The team of the Institute of Animal Cell Technology and Systems Biology investigates these very fundamental cellular mechanisms and translates them into bioprocess engineering and technological applications for the cost-effective and safe production of biopharmaceutical products.

Two research groups are part of the of Institute of Animal Cell Technology and Systems Biology with the following topics:

Nicole Borth: Genome Information Databases for CHO Cell Line Engineering of CHO Renate Kunert: Bioprocess Engineering of Animal Cells Animal Cell Factory Design