BASF to drive scientific discovery through collaborative initiative

The BASF Advanced Research Initiative at Harvard University is designed to be more integrative, allowing BASF researchers from Germany to work closely with Harvard academic research teams, easing scientific exchange on the projects, as well as fostering broader interaction between the two institutions.

This arrangement also gives the students the opportunity to benefit from a close interaction and early exposure to industry. Harvard faculty will also have the freedom to distribute and publish findings from the initiative, and BASF will have the opportunity to further develop discoveries and innovations for possible commercialisation.

Since the BASF Advanced Research Initiative at Harvard University was first announced last autumn, 10 postdoctoral students from the United States, France, Italy, Switzerland and China have already started working in Harvard labs on multiple projects. For example, they are studying the interaction between bacteria and surfaces under various conditions and developing new types of surfaces in order to uncover structure-property relationships with respect to the interaction. Another project involves the use colloidal techniques to develop formulations of pharmaceutical actives with a higher bioavailability. Over the next five years, with direct funding from BASF to reach up to $20m, the students will pursue further projects in applied physics and mathematics, chemical biology, systems biology, bioengineering and materials science.

While based at Harvard’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), this highly interdisciplinary initiative will benefit from having strong ties with students, departments and schools throughout the University.

Dr Andreas Kreimeyer, member of the board of executive directors of BASF and executive research director, said: ‘This type of progressive research association with a major industrial leader is a new model for Harvard, and one we hope to emulate and repeat,’ said Venkatesh Narayanamurti, Dean, SEAS, John A. and Elizabeth S. Armstrong professor, and professor of Physics. ‘There is tremendous value in this initiative, as it will not only strengthen education and research, but also explore solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems in an effort to better society.’

The opening of the initiative was celebrated with an inaugural two-day symposium on Biofilms held in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The study of biofilms and their interaction with surfaces has gained worldwide interest as microbial biofilms on surfaces cause billions of dollars in losses each year in equipment damage, product contamination, and energy losses. More importantly, biofilms also cause medical infections, resulting in adverse and detrimental affect to human life.

The event brought together experts in microbiology, chemistry, physics and materials science, to share their knowledge about the life of biofilms and their interaction with surfaces.