159: The Ultimate Guide to Accelerating Perfusion Process Development Using 96-Deep-Well Plates with Tom Valentin - Part 1

In bioprocess development, the ability to rapidly screen conditions and predict scale-up performance can mean the difference between a successful therapy launch and costly delays. Today's Smart Biotech Scientist episode features Tom Valentin from CSEM, who's pioneering revolutionary approaches to miniaturized perfusion systems that could transform how we develop biologics.

Tom is a group leader at CSEM for Automated Sample Handling within the Life Sciences and Industry 4.0 business unit. As a mechanical and biomedical engineer, he brings a unique cross-disciplinary perspective to solving bioprocessing's most challenging miniaturization problems.

What makes this conversation essential listening:

• 96-deep-well plates are revolutionizing perfusion development: Tom reveals how CSEM's innovative fluidic lids enable continuous medium exchange in 300-microliter volumes, potentially allowing up to 96 parallel perfusion experiments with automated liquid handlers and shaker incubators
• Three critical barriers still need solving: Despite the promise, Tom identifies the key technical challenges that must be overcome: ultra-low flow rate liquid handling (imagine exchanging 300 μL over 24 hours), effective cell retention in miniaturized systems, and cost-effective real-time biomonitoring that fits within well plate constraints
• The future of process development is automated and intelligent: From pressure-over-liquid systems to advanced sensor integration, Tom outlines how companies can achieve near-autonomous perfusion screening—but warns that current sensing limitations mean viable cell density monitoring remains the "holy grail" of small-scale perfusion

This isn't just about smaller equipment—it's about fundamentally changing how we approach process development. If you're working in cell culture optimization, process scale-up, or bioprocess automation, Tom's insights reveal both the tremendous opportunities and practical realities of implementing next-generation perfusion systems.

For biotech professionals, staying ahead means embracing these high-throughput, data-rich models, allowing smarter, faster, and more predictive process development for the therapies of tomorrow.

Discover how bioprocessing is evolving - from high-throughput screening to digital twins and continuous manufacturing- in these expert-led episodes.

• Episode 155: From Process Bottlenecks to Seamless Production: How Continuous Bioprocessing Changes Everything
• Episodes 153-154: The Future of Bioprocessing: Industry 4.0, Digital Twins, and Continuous Manufacturing Strategies with Tiago Matos
• Episodes 85-86: Bioprocess 4.0: Integrated Continuous Biomanufacturing with Massimo Morbidelli
• Episodes 73-74: Bead-Based Assays: The Power of High-Throughput Screening with Sebastian Giehring

Connect with Tom Valentin:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tom-valentin-5bb9091b

Website: www.csem.ch/en

Email: thomas.valentin@csem.ch

Next step:

Book a free consultation to help you get started on any questions you may have about bioprocessing analytics: https://bruehlmann-consulting.com/call

Develop bioprocessing

🧬 Stop second-guessing your CMC strategy before investor meetings. Our 1-Week CMC Assessment reveals your roadmap gaps and transforms uncertain founders into confident presenters who ace investor meetings. Secure your assessment at https://stan.store/SmartBiotech/p/get-cmc-clarity-in-1-week--investor-ready

Support the show