The innovations of chemical engineers in biopharmaceuticals have left a legacy of important roles for chemical engineers to fill today while inviting them to contribute their own innovations.
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ABSTRACT
Chemical engineering has a 100-year history of making important contributions to global health care challenges in the pharmaceutical industry. Beginning with the effort to commercialize insulin in the 1920s and continuing through today with new modalities such as gene therapy, our discipline has consistently provided necessary technological evolution through the combination of engineering principles and creativity. The innovations of chemical engineers in biopharmaceuticals have left a legacy of important roles for chemical engineers to fill today while inviting them to contribute their own innovations for the challenges of tomorrow.
ABOUT PAUL COLLINS
Paul Collins worked over 30 years for Merck and Eli Lilly, primarily in research and development roles associated with new molecule process development. While he worked extensively in the drug substance arena, he also has considerable experience in formulated drug products and delivery devices.
Collin’s career was unique in that he gained significant experience in synthetic “small” molecules, monoclonal antibodies, therapeutic proteins and other “large” molecules, as well as with peptides and other genetic medicine-related treatment modalities. Across Merck/Lilly, he has been involved as a lead technical contributor or accountable management member for 10 marketed products.
Collins held several management roles at Lilly and is especially proud of his time leading a new technology development group — this group grew their capabilities in flow chemistry and ultimately commercialized products using continuous manufacturing technology and online analysis for both synthesis and formulation.
He is well known in the broader pharmaceutical development community and is a recognized leader for several FDA-related industry initiatives associated with advanced manufacturing technologies in the biopharmaceutical manufacturing space. He most recently began a new career as the director of industrial research for Purdue University’s chemistry department, where he fosters academic-industrial collaborations.
ABOUT EDWARD L. PAUL
Edward L. Paul graduated in 1952 from UVA with a bachelor’s in chemical engineering and the Navy ROTC program. After his Navy service, he received his M.S.E. from Princeton University and Ph.D. from New York University. He joined Merck Research Labs in Rahway, New Jersey, remaining at Merck for 40 years until his retirement as executive director, chemical engineering research and development, in 1994. In 1995, he was recognized with UVA Engineering’s Distinguished Achievement Award. We are thankful for Ed’s contributions to the chemical engineering profession, the pharmaceutical industry and his impact on human health.
In 2016, the Department of Chemical Engineering established the Edward L. Paul Lecture to create opportunities to connect our faculty with industry leaders. Ed passed away in 2020. To honor his legacy, Michael L. King created the Edward and Lois Paul Excellence in Music Award to recognize an outstanding chemical engineering undergraduate who also has a love of music, as Ed was as passionate about music as he was chemical engineering.