Center on Biologics Development and Evaluation

Our Mission

The Center on Biologics Development and Evaluation (CBDE) at Kansas State University is dedicated to delivering cutting-edge services to our worldwide partners and clients across four key areas:

1. Advancing bioprocess development for the commercialization of veterinary biologics.
2. Offering contract manufacturing services for autogenous vaccines tailored for food animals.
3. Conducting rigorous safety and efficacy evaluations of veterinary biologics.
4. Establishing a sustainable platform for international collaboration aimed at preventing and controlling transboundary animal diseases.

Why do we establish the Biologics Development and Evaluation (CBDE)?

The establishment of the Center on Biologics Development and Evaluation (CBDE) is driven by a commitment to address several unmet needs in the development and utilization of animal vaccines globally. These needs encompass various challenges in the field:

1. Limited Transformation of Innovative Ideas: Despite the yearly generation of numerous innovative ideas and patents by animal health researchers in universities worldwide, only a fraction make it to commercial products. The insufficient collaboration between academic inventors and private industry hinders the transformation of veterinary biologic discoveries into cost-effective commercial products.
2. Prohibitive Costs of Autogenous Vaccines: Autogenous or custom vaccines, crucial for farms when commercial alternatives are unavailable or ineffective, face challenges due to prohibitive costs associated with production. The current licensing requirements and the need for approved Outlines of Production make the manufacturing of autogenous vaccines financially burdensome for small to medium-sized food animal production systems.
3. Limited Resources for Safety and Efficacy Evaluation: The growing demand for safety and efficacy evaluations of experimental vaccines for high consequence transboundary animal diseases since 2018 is met with limited availability of high-level biosecurity research facilities and expertise in both public and private sectors.
4. Insufficient Analysis of Vaccines Procured by Aid Agencies: Vaccines for transboundary animal diseases, often procured by international aid agencies, lack comprehensive "Fit for Purpose" analysis and quality evaluation before purchase.
5. Lack of Sustainable International Collaboration Platform: The absence of a sustainable platform for international collaboration on the prevention and control of transboundary animal diseases poses a continuous challenge for national authorities and international animal health organizations. Despite efforts in training, online education, and risk communication, there is often a lack of follow-through and action, with some trainings neglecting the consideration of socioeconomic conditions in each country, crucial for determining effective animal disease surveillance tools. The result is a gap between discussions and concrete actions. The CBDE aims to bridge these gaps and address these challenges for a more effective global approach to animal health.