BRIDGE (Biologics Research Infrastructure for Development and GMP Enablement) - Project Summary/Abstract: The BRIDGE Center is a shared-use translational biomanufacturing facility designed to address a critical gap in the NIH-funded research ecosystem: the lack of integrated infrastructure to support process development, analytical characterization, and pilot-scale production required to advance biologics, vaccines, and cell-based therapies toward clinical evaluation. The project will construct and commission a flexible, multi-user facility that enables coordinated execution of these activities within a single environment, and directly advance MRIGlobal's capacity to execute integrated translational biologics programs. The need for the BRIDGE Center is driven by an active and growing portfolio of NIH-funded programs at MRIGlobal spanning the NCI, NIAID, and NCATS as some examples. Current NIH-funded programs include development of nucleic acid-based therapeutics, vaccines, and other complex biologics, all of which require integrated process development and analytical capabilities that are currently distributed across external providers, limiting efficiency and extending development timelines. These programs represent sustained, real demand for shared-use infrastructure and will provide an immediate foundation for facility utilization. The BRIDGE Center will operate as a core research resource serving NIH-funded investigators at MRIGlobal while providing access to regional academic, federal, and nonprofit partners. The facility will integrate upstream and downstream process development, analytical testing, and pilot-scale production with controlled materials management, enabling end-to-end workflows that support iterative development, data generation, and production of material for preclinical studies. By providing coordinated, accessible infrastructure, the BRIDGE Center will directly support NIH priorities in cancer, infectious diseases, and translational science by enabling more efficient advancement of biologics and vaccines toward IND-enabling studies and clinical readiness. The facility is designed to complement, rather than duplicate, existing academic and commercial resources by focusing on early- to mid-stage translational development. The long-term objective is to establish a sustainable, shared-use national resource that expands access to critical biomanufacturing capabilities, strengthens domestic research infrastructure, and enhances the impact of NIH-funded discoveries. By reducing technical barriers, improving process reproducibility, and accelerating development timelines, the BRIDGE Center will advance biomedical innovation and improve human health outcomes.
