The University of Puerto Rico’s Mayagüez campus (RUM) received an $8 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish Collaborative E-RISE: Center for AI Driven Bioprocess Control for Cell Manufacturing (CAPCell). The multidisciplinary initiative will integrate artificial intelligence, bioprocesses and cell manufacturing technologies to advance cutting-edge stem cell research. Researchers from RUM, the UPR Río Piedras campus, Ana G. Méndez University and the Puerto Rico Science, Technology & Research Trust are taking part.
The project has an initial duration of four years and can be renewed for three more. It is led by Dr. Manuel Rodríguez Martínez, professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, with Dr. Maribella Domenech García, professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, as associate director. The initiative aims to develop new AI-based tools to improve the manufacturing, monitoring and quality of cells with therapeutic applications.
In written statements, Rodríguez Martínez said the idea is to use AI techniques to improve the manufacturing process of these cells, maximize their production and make them more accessible for treating different diseases. He said the grant brings together specialists in chemical and electrical engineering, computer science, software engineering and administration, and strengthens ties with industry, with the goal that the knowledge can be transferred to other institutions and create economic and scientific opportunities in Puerto Rico and abroad.
CAPCell will also train new researchers: the proposal includes more than $1 million in scholarships for graduate and undergraduate students, tuition support, research experiences, specialized seminars, summer camps for high school students and teacher training programs. It also includes an exploratory grants program for faculty outside the core research team.