Overcoming the "Go Bigger" Conundrum in Biotechnology

Recombinant insulin was first produced in a lab, but to meet the demand of people who need it, you can't produce it in a petri dish or isolate it using a burette cromatograph. Increasing the output of a living system poses many challenges for obtaining optimal conditions and efficient recovery of molecules. Successful bioprocess scale-up is essential to transform scientific discoveries into accessible, economically sustainable technologies that can benefit agriculture, health, the environment, and industry. This is the step that makes biotech an industry. The IX Course on Bioprocess Scale-up and Bioreactor Operation Training provided participants with the knowledge and practical skills needed to bridge the gap. 
Held at the Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología (CNyN) of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) in Ensenada, Mexico, the course combined advanced lectures with intensive hands-on training on bioreactor operation, oxygen transfer, process monitoring and control, recombinant protein production, and the cultivation of plant and animal cells. Participants also explored modern approaches to industrial bioprocess development, including Process Analytical Technology (PAT), automation, soft sensors, and scale-up strategies used in contemporary biotechnology. 
We extend our sincere thanks to the course coordinators, Dr. Mauricio Alberto Trujillo-Roldán and Dr. Norma Adriana Valdez-Cruz, as well as to the Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología (CNyN-UNAM) for hosting this outstanding training opportunity and for their commitment to strengthening bioprocess engineering capacity across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Watch the video to discover how the UNU-BIOLAC scholarship awardees plan to apply the knowledge and skills gained during the course to advance innovative solutions in areas ranging from biopharmaceutical production and agricultural biotechnology to environmental remediation and sustainable bioprocess development. Their experiences highlight how specialized training can help bring biotechnology closer to real-world impact.