I want to let you in on a secret. Truly transformative bioprocess development is not just about creative brainstorming in the lab. It's about weaving that creativity into day‑to‑day operations while keeping GMP requirements front and center. In an industry that evolves faster than we can say "bioreactor," I've had to balance strict regulatory demands with the pursuit of breakthrough innovations. Through years of trial, error, and discovery, I've identified seven foundational habits that consistently spark significant progress in bioprocessing.
Throughout my journey in biotech technology innovation, glycoengineering, and process development, I've uncovered practical techniques that break down seemingly impossible goals into achievable milestones. From cultivating curiosity in my daily lab work to strategically building innovation networks, these habits offer me—and anyone navigating a similarly demanding environment—a roadmap for staying ahead in an industry driven by compliance and discovery.
In this article, I delve into these seven habits and illustrate how you can apply them to make your bioprocess innovations more efficient and effective. I also draw from my Smart Biotech Scientist Podcast, highlighting transformative examples ranging from the early discoveries behind Protein A purification to entirely digitized manufacturing facilities to underscore these habits' power.
My ultimate goal is to show that by consistently applying the right mindsets, we can turn what might otherwise be routine process development into truly exceptional innovation.
Habit 1: Curiosity
Innovation in bioprocess development begins with a dedicated form of curiosity. Beyond general scientific interest, this curiosity drives me to look closely at my DOE parameters and ask, "What's really happening inside these cells?" This mindset has historically propelled significant breakthroughs.
For example, Protein A—known for revolutionizing antibody purification—was discovered through an almost accidental observation of an unexpected bacterial protein. Initially mistaken for a sugar compound, its true nature came to light only because scientists continued investigating despite contradictory data.
Modern downstream processing owes a great deal to that sort of relentless curiosity, which reminds me that the next major advancement might start with a simple question I ask during a routine purification run.
A Legacy of Breakthroughs
I like remembering daily tasks, such as running an antibody through a Protein A column, which connects me to a chain of curiosity that began over 80 years ago. Embracing this legacy encourages me to look more critically at my data. By harnessing curiosity, I can transform small observations into industry‑wide breakthroughs.
Habit 2: Connecting the Dots
Connecting the dots goes beyond understanding isolated facts or events. It's about recognizing patterns and relationships that drive innovation. Professor Massimo Morbidelli's work on machine learning for vaccine process development demonstrated how knowledge transfer principles could reduce experimental workloads by up to 90 percent.
This mindset helps me see that many core scaling and process‑transfer strategies remain consistent, whether I'm developing monoclonal antibodies, fusion proteins, or entirely new cell lines. By intentionally seeking overlapping principles, I can adapt lessons from one area of bioprocessing to another, making my development cycles faster and more effective.
Transferring Knowledge Across Scales
When paired with the right machine learning models, digital twins preserve their core structure from small pilot scales to thousands-of-liter commercial setups. Although physical parameters might change, the foundational insights into process behavior remain the same.
This frictionless knowledge transfer reminds me how connecting the right dots helps me elevate past experiments into a springboard for new advancements.
Habit 3: Taking Calculated Risks
Working within a GMP environment naturally cultivates a culture of risk mitigation. However, I know a clear difference between reckless gambles and careful, calculated risks.
Early adopters of perfusion culture faced significant skepticism, yet they ultimately achieved higher productivity and simplified facilities. Jeff Bezos chose to sell books online in the broader tech landscape when few believed in the internet's potential.
By taking a strategic approach and analyzing market potential, he proved that well‑informed risk‑taking can redefine entire industries. In bioprocess development, I can adopt the same philosophy by thoroughly assessing opportunities, planning for regulatory compliance, and proceeding with deliberate action.
Balancing Caution and Ambition
Quality manuals and SOPs are essential in bioprocessing but don't eliminate the space for experimentation. Whenever I identify a gap in productivity or quality, I weigh the risks and rewards. Then, I design pilot tests that address regulatory constraints. This balanced approach can reveal new and more efficient production pathways.
Habit 4: Persistence
Few scientific projects go smoothly from start to finish, and persistence often determines whether I succeed or abandon a promising line of inquiry. During my PhD in glycoengineering, I conducted hundreds of fed‑batch experiments in 96‑well plates.
Robotic malfunctions and puzzling data frequently stalled my progress, yet I eventually achieved robust glycosylation control by systematically learning from each setback. This aligns with countless instances in science where breakthroughs happen only because someone refuses to give up.
Learning from Repeated Attempts
Persistence isn't just about doing the same experiments over and over. It's about refining my approach every time. Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind was rejected 38 times. Whether talking about publishing or bioprocess optimization, each failure can offer a clue on how to improve. I'm more likely to reach my so‑called "impossible" goals when I treat obstacles as lessons.
Habit 5: Challenging the Status Quo
Significant leaps in bioprocess development often arise when I question the mantra, "This is how we've always done it."Take Sanofi's Massachusetts facility as an example. By creating a "factory of the future," they introduced fully digitized systems and single‑use technologies, drastically reducing energy and resource use.
This kind of innovation wouldn't have been possible had they simply accepted existing procedures.
From Low Yields to Ambitious Goals
My team encountered a tough protein initially expressed at only 1 to 3 grams per liter. Rather than settling for that, we set our sights on reaching 10 grams per liter. Many colleagues doubted our goal, but we reached 9.7 grams per liter with systematic cell-line and process optimization—a near‑match to our "moonshot" target. That experience taught me that sometimes the most significant barrier isn't the science itself but the limiting belief that something can't be done.
Habit 6: Continuous Learning
Technology and regulations evolve so fast that continuous learning isn't optional—it's vital. A 2023 edX survey of 800 executives found that half of all workplace skills may become obsolete by 2025 due to AI advancements.
Biotech is no exception. I have to stay updated on developments like artificial intelligence, new analytical methods, and advanced automation. Companies that foster ongoing learning often achieve higher revenue and profit, showing the real‑world impact of skill growth.
Building a Resilient Learning Culture
At an organizational level, continuous learning goes beyond training sessions. It means weaving growth opportunities into daily routines through innovation hours and mentoring programs. This approach keeps me and my team agile enough to adopt new standards involving data analytics or large‑scale fermentation techniques.
Habit 7: Passion
Real innovation is fueled by a deep passion for the value my work can bring to society. That passion revolves around enabling biotech leaders to deliver life‑saving therapies to patients worldwide. This reminds me of Olivier Detournay at Cellura, who pursued the seemingly impossible goal of cultivating delicate dinoflagellates.
By diving into geophysics research, he discovered a revolutionary bioreactor design that could advance cell therapy manufacturing. Passion, in essence, drives me to cross boundaries and tackle challenges no one else has dared confront.
Transforming Good Scientists into Great Innovators
Passion sustains me through the complexities of process development. SOPs and compliance create consistency, but my drive to enhance methods sets genuine leaders apart. When I truly care about the impact of my work, I become far more capable of innovative thinking.
Bonus Tip: Strategic Cross‑Pollination Networking
Strategic collaboration is one of the most effective ways I've found to generate breakthroughs. Rather than relying solely on standard networking, I search for partners with distinct skill sets that complement mine.
For instance, collaboration with experts in multivariate analysis or modeling can streamline process optimization and slash costs. Even relationships with vendors can offer fresh perspectives from other sectors and help me apply those insights to my projects.
The Payoff in Process Improvements
From my experience, such partnerships can rapidly shorten development timelines, cut quality analysis costs, and improve fed‑batch cultures.
Merging specialized expertise often leads to innovations that never surface in siloed environments. In a field where compliance and resource management are critical, these alliances can determine whether a major project succeeds.
Final Remarks
I've learned that real progress doesn't usually arrive in a single eureka moment. It unfolds by consistently applying habits that encourage curiosity, question old assumptions, and foster joint problem‑solving. Whether optimizing cell culture yields or harnessing machine learning, these seven habits equip me for the complex challenges I encounter in bioprocess development.
If you want to accelerate your biologics pipeline, I invite you to schedule a free 20‑minute consultation. In this session, we can zero in on your most challenging process development hurdles and build a clear roadmap—one that helps you refine your products and technology without compromising quality.
Keep exploring, asking hard questions, and, most importantly, innovating. Your next breakthrough is just a habit away.
David Brühlmann is a strategic advisor who helps C-level biotech leaders reduce development and manufacturing costs to make life-saving therapies accessible to more patients worldwide.
He is also a biotech technology innovation coach, technology transfer leader, and host of the Smart Biotech Scientist podcast—the go-to podcast for biotech scientists who want to master biopharma CMC development and biomanufacturing.
Want to hear more? Go to Smart Biotech Scientist Podcast for insights and resources from our guests on various topics. Do you wish to simplify your biologics drug development project? Contact Us
