Establishing a Regional Hub for Lyophilization Research through Acquisition of the ATS SP Hull LyoStar 4.0

About This Grant

PROJECT SUMMARY Freeze-drying plays a vital role in pharmaceutical and biomedical development, yet researchers and collaborators in this region of Massachusetts currently lack equitable access to the flexible instrumentation required for early-stage formulation and method development. Each year, dozens of new lyophilized drug products are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, reflecting the field’s rapid growth and essential contributions to human health. The addition of the ATS SP Hull LyoStar 4.0, a research-scale freeze dryer, to the Core Research Facility at University of Massachusetts Lowell (UMass Lowell) will allow researchers to optimize freeze-drying protocols, reduce research delays, improve reproducibility, and retain innovation locally, advancing the university’s impact on translational science and regional economic development. The freeze dryer’s advanced temperature, vacuum, and pressure control, as well as integrated process monitoring tools, will support formulation testing, biological preservation, and material development across disciplines. These features are particularly important for UMass Lowell faculty working in biomedical engineering, chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, plastics engineering, and environmental health, whose work spans peptide therapeutics, nanomedicine, drug delivery, and biopolymer design, areas that align directly with the mission of the NIH to improve public health through research. This equipment will also support hands-on workforce development, allowing undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers to gain practical experience with real- world biomanufacturing tools. It will be integrated into existing training programs and internship opportunities designed to prepare students for high-demand careers in the life sciences. Since its founding in 2013, UMass Lowell’s Core Research Facility has served as a trusted, shared-use platform for over 1,000 users annually, with a sustainable operating model that combines user fees and university investment. The LyoStar 4.0 will be seamlessly incorporated into this infrastructure, ensuring long-term access, technical oversight, and maximum impact. Its availability will help establish UMass Lowell as a regional hub for freeze-drying research and commercialization, supporting NIH’s mission to improve American’s health through innovation and scientific excellence.