The Pennsylvania State University (PSU)
The proposed research will be conducted at Penn State University’s (PSU) University Park Campus, home to all Principal Investigators (PIs) and Co-Investigators (Co-Is). PSU is a nationally recognized research institution, consistently ranking among the top 20 universities for R&D expenditures, surpassing $1 billion in 2021–2022, including over $650 million in federal funding (NSF HERD Survey). It ranks 4th nationally in research breadth and depth, with 12 science and engineering fields in the top 10. PSU’s leadership in materials and engineering research has fostered world-class infrastructure, including shared facilities managed by the Materials Research Institute (MRI) and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences. These interdisciplinary institutes, under the Office of the Vice President for Research, are housed in the 275,600-square-foot Millennium Science Complex, featuring dedicated wings for materials and life sciences research. These state-of-the-art facilities will provide essential support for the proposed research.
The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences (Huck)
Huck drives excellence in interdisciplinary life science research and education at Penn State. Founded in 1996 as the Life Sciences Consortium, Huck enhances collaboration across disciplines. It supports research through cutting-edge Shared Technology Facilities, including X-ray Crystallography, Automated Biological Calorimetry, Optical and Cryo-Electron Microscopy, Flow Cytometry, Genomics, High-Field MRI, Proteomics, Mass Spectrometry, and Metabolomics. Additionally, two dedicated facilities specialize in biomanufacturing. (1) The Sartorius Cell Culture Facility: The Sartorius Facility supports mammalian cell culture research, including stem cell production, tissue constructs, and viral vectors. Established with a $1.5 million gift from Sartorius, it features advanced bioreactor systems for various scales of cell culture, including: AMBR 250 – High-throughput bioreactors, BioStat B 10 L – Laboratory-scale bioreactors, Hollow fiber bioreactors – For adherent cell culture, BioStat 200 L – Large-scale manufacturing bioreactors. This state-of-the-art facility provides critical resources for biomanufacturing research and innovation. (2) The CSL Behring Fermentation Facility: The CSL Facility offers cutting-edge laboratory and pilot-scale systems for fermentation (500 mL–500 L), cell disruption, separation, and purification. It houses 16 automated bioreactor systems with data collection capabilities, including: 7 × 500 mL Applikon MiniBioreactors, 4 × 5 L BioStat B – Twin units, 2 × 30 L SIP BioStat Cplus units, 50 L & 100 L SIP BioStat D-DCU twin unit, 500 L Sartorius D-DCU-500L.
The Materials Research Institute (MRI)
MRI serves as a catalyst for multidisciplinary education and innovation in materials science. As the first university-wide research institute directly supported by the Office of the Vice President for Research, MRI has become a model for cross-disciplinary collaboration aimed at translating knowledge and technology into industry and government applications. Penn State consistently ranks 1st in the U.S. for total research expenditures in materials science. MRI provides extensive support to faculty research through the Materials Characterization Laboratory (MCL). MCL is a fully staffed, open-access analytical research facility. Spanning over 15,000 square feet within the Millennium Science Complex (MSC), MCL is more than just a collection of laboratories and instruments. The MSC represents a new paradigm in research, where engineering, physical sciences, life sciences, and environmental sciences, enhanced by high-speed computation, converge to drive breakthroughs in human health, energy, and materials science. MCL core capabilities include: Transmission Electron Microscopy, Scanning Electron & Ion Microscopy, X-ray Scattering & Molecular Spectroscopy, Thermal Analysis & Particle Characterization, Electrical Characterization & Materials Processing.
Center and Faculty Research Laboratories
The Center will be housed on the third, forth and fifth floors of the new Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Building (CBEB), located at the heart of the sciences district on Penn State’s University Park campus. This state-of-the-art facility brings together Penn State’s esteemed Chemical Engineering and rapidly growing Biomedical Engineering departments, fostering collaboration, innovation, and student recruitment while supporting the evolving needs of modern science. The Center will serve as the primary hub for research, technology dissemination, and training activities. PSU has committed 6000 square feet of laboratory space plus five full-size cell culture rooms (1500 square feet) to support its operations. All labs are well-equipped for the proposed research.
Penn State Medical School
Penn State College of Medicine strives for national leadership in basic, clinical, translational, and health services research while advancing medical knowledge and training physician-scientists. With 1,600 faculty across 27 departments (8 basic science, 19 clinical), it fosters strong collaborations between researchers and clinicians. The College maintains a diverse research portfolio, securing 685 awards totaling $160 million in FY2024. Funding sources include federal (51%), state (18%), nonprofits (14.4%), industry (7.7%), and sub-awards (8.9%). The NIH is the largest funder, contributing $70.2 million (48%), followed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with $28.8 million.