Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult’s new laboratories showcased at the opening of Sycamore House

Sycamore House is a new development built and operated by Kadans Science Partner, a European leader in developing science and technology real estate. CGT Catapult has created two new facilities at Sycamore House, a dedicated laboratory for process analytical technologies and a fully equipped laboratory space that is dedicated for training and staff upskilling. Together, these additions support the continued expansion of the Stevenage Biocluster which, since the opening of CGT Catapult’s Stevenage Manufacturing Innovation Centre in 2018 has become a major UK hub for life sciences.

During the event, Robert Shaw, Chief of Staff, Innovate UK, delivered a keynote speech and visited CGT Catapult’s Skills and Training Laboratories. These laboratories, which were built with support from the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, provide access to state-of-the-art equipment and training facilities. They aim to help provide a supply of trained talent for the advanced therapies industry, with this talent being needed to support the continued rapid growth of the industry. For example, the labs are home to VR platforms, developed in collaboration with UK companies, which allows for staff to be trained in VR simulations before moving into the real lab.

Sycamore House is also home to CGT Catapult’s Process Analytical Technologies (PAT) Laboratory. This industry leading laboratory has been designed and equipped with advanced bioprocessing facilities allied to fully automated sampling and real time sample analysis. Collaborators can use the PAT Lab to generate a level of process understanding typically inaccessible to developers of advanced therapies and this improved knowledge allows for greater optimisation producing higher yields and less variable products.