BRIDGE Center: A shared biomanufacturing hub to move biologics and cell therapies toward clinic
Official title: BRIDGE (Biologics Research Infrastructure for Development and GMP Enablement)
Funded at Midwest Research Institute · NIH-11523335 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new shared facility will help speed up the development and early clinical testing of vaccines, biologics, and cell-based therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Midwest Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2026 |
| Project end | January 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $7,456,395 |
| NIH project number | 1C06OD042707-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11523335 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Researchers and clinicians developing biologics, vaccines, and cell therapies who need shared translational infrastructure.
✕Less likely to help
Patients are not directly enrolled in this grant, which funds facility infrastructure; benefits accrue through accelerated research and potential future therapies.
What this research studies
The BRIDGE Center creates a flexible, multi-user space where researchers can develop processes, characterize products, and produce pilot-scale quantities of biologics in a way that supports moving promising therapies toward clinical evaluation. It centralizes upstream and analytical capabilities that are currently scattered, reducing delays and improving coordination across NIH-funded programs. By serving MRIGlobal and regional partners, the center aims to accelerate translational work in vaccines and cell therapies for cancers and communicable diseases. This grant funds construction, commissioning, and operation of the facility as a shared resource for investigators.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Patients could benefit from faster development and earlier access to safe and effective biologics and cell therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Shared biomanufacturing cores have shown to shorten development timelines and improve reproducibility in translational programs.
Where this research is happening
-
Midwest Research Institute
Kansas City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: White, Jonathan M — Midwest Research Institute
- Study coordinator: White, Jonathan M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.