IChemE’s upcoming event will explore how biological and photochemical processes are being scaled for real-world impact.
Scale-up is one of the most challenging stages in translating laboratory innovation into commercial reality. Whether it's a new bioprocess, a peptide therapeutic, or a continuous-flow photochemical reaction, the journey from a successful lab experiment to a robust, reproducible industrial process demands fresh thinking, cross-disciplinary expertise, and a sharp focus on sustainability.
The event brings together researchers, engineers, and industry specialists to share practical insights into scaling biological and photochemical processes. Talks span operational realities of pilot-scale bioprocessing, gas transfer characterisation in bioreactors, novel photocatalytic reactor design, and proteomics-driven peptide manufacturing. The focus that links all talks are the technical, sustainability, and translational challenges of moving from laboratory to industry. We welcome researchers, engineers, and industry professionals interested in bridging the gap between academic discovery and commercial manufacturing.
Speakers
James Alexander, Heriot-Watt, Croda / NiTech
James is a PhD researcher working with Professor Xiong-Wei Ni and Croda on the development of photochemical reactors. His interests lie in sustainable reaction development and life sciences, with a focus on translating laboratory innovation into industrial application, bridging the gap between bench-scale discovery and scalable, greener manufacturing.
Emily Naray, Upstream Bioprocessing Scientist, FlexBio (IBioIC)
Emily has an MSci in molecular biology and is an Upstream Bioprocess Scientist at the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) scale-up centre FlexBIO. She helps companies and academic labs expand their bioprocesses up to pilot-scale. She also teaches at FlexBIO’s training courses.
Titouan Genty, Upstream Bioprocessing Research Assistant, FlexBio (IBioIC)
Titouan is a French MSc Biotechnology and Bioprocess student currently doing his work placement at the Flexbio scale-up facility as part of his last year of university. Integrated into the upstream bioprocessing team, his actual focus is on the definition of a model to predict the gas transfer inside a bioreactor in function of different parameters.
Sara ten Have, CEO, CSO, Origin Peptides
Sara is a biochemist from NZ, with over 20 years experience in Academia. Sara jumped ship into the commercial world so she could do her own research and address tough problems.
"Our technology came from an academic hunch and through over a decade of research has lead to a grant from Innovate UK to scale our technology for sustainable Medicines Manufacturing. A bit of grit, a great community in Scottish Biotech and naïve confidence got us this far- lets see what happens next!"
The material presented has not been peer-reviewed. Any opinions are the presenter’s own and do not necessarily represent those of IChemE or the Central Scotland Member Group in full. The information is given in good faith but without any liability on the part of IChemE.
Time
18:00–20:30 BST. (Doors will be open at the venue from 17:30 BST.)
Some information you provide may be given to the venue for registration purposes.