Technology Development Laboratory (TDL)
In addition to the benefits of being located alongside an academic research institute, and the benefits of access to the sites’ scientific excellence, a unique offering of the Babraham model is the access to scientific facilities, bench space and capital equipment through its new Technology Development Laboratory (download current TDL flyer).
Established to support innovation in biotechnology and biomedical fields, the TDL is a fully-equipped biology and chemistry laboratory. It provides services and expertise across many scientific fields including molecular biology, protein biochemistry, cell biology, medicinal and synthetic chemistry. This pioneering concept was designed to accelerate the translation of early-stage concepts and technologies into viable commercial propositions. It does so by providing access either to equipment, facilities or procurement of TDL research staff to undertake the work. Other services drawing upon the facilities of the Babraham Institute, such as access to state of the art cell imaging facilities and services, can also be provided. The services offered by the TDL are particularly helpful for cash-limited start-ups, helping to reduce cash-burn during the critical early stages of the technology development curve.
The flexibility of access and value that the TDL offers to both emerging and established bioventures was recognised in early 2008 by EEDA with a grant of £300k awarded in the inaugural round of EEDA’s Capital Equipment Competition. The goal of this award was to build on existing expertise and capability within the TDL and put in place a suite of equipment supporting drug discovery. The new EEDA suite for biopharmaceutical development includes a medium scale cell culture and fluorescence-based assay platform, together with state-of-the-art protein purification and analysis systems.
In February 2010 BBT won a grant of £321,763 from EEDA's capital equipment competition to provide equipment that will support drug discovery and biomedical innovation in the region. Bioscience organisations across the East of England will have access to a Biacore T100, a new screening instrument to exploit therapeutic and diagnostic targets that will be particularly useful for the development of biological therapeutics as well as for discovering new drugs. Click here to view full press release.
