Assoc ProfessorSteven Ferguson

My research is curiosity driven focusing on the development of novel technologies with potential for commercial or societal impact primarily in the area of advanced manufacturing, flow synthesis and formulation of pharmaceuticals but with activities in nanotechnology and raw materials associated with the circular economy and zero emissions, drawing from the same expertise. To this end I have assembled a multidisciplinary team with expertise in separation processes, downstream bioprocessing, process simulation, flow synthesis, unit operation & reactor design, crystallization and formulation; structured to be vertically integrated to bring fundamental insights from multiphase systems, reactions or separations, through simulations and prototypes to actionable technologies. My research program is structured across four main themes where interdisciplinary approaches are needed to provide impactful and adoptable solutions:

1. Advanced Manufacturing of Pharmaceuticals:

• Advanced Manufacturing of Pharmaceuticals is the largest area of activity in my group; Flow chemistry, RNA Synthesis (ASOs), Process Simulation, Crystallization, 3D-Printing of Processing Equipment/Reactors are the primary activities.

• I am currently Theme Lead in Manufacturing in the SSPC Centre, the National SFI Centre for Pharmaceutical Research, coordinating activity in this area for the Centre. (http://sspc.ie/manufacturing/)

•I have led a significant Enterprise Ireland funded Innovation Partnership with Pfizer that has yielded a number of new purification technologies for use in flow synthesis and continuous manufacturing.

• I am currently leading a Targeted project within I-form, the National SFI Centre in Advanced Manufacturing. The collaboration aims to significantly intensify pharmaceutical synthesis and production through the development of novel 3D-printed reactors and separation unit operations, to facilitate intensified fully telescoped/integrated continuous flow synthesis of drugs, and thereby their manufacture within miniaturised printable chemical factories. (http://www.i-form.ie/)

2. Downstream Biopharmaceutical Separation Processes: Design, optimization and process simulation of Downstream Biopharmaceutical Processing Platforms. Development of novel separation operation modalities for Biopharmaceuticals. Currently leading an Enterprise Ireland Innovation Partnership with Bristol Myers-Squib in Downstream Processing of Biopharmaceuticals, in addition to a number of directly funded downstream biopharmaceutical research projects with Multinational pharmaceutical companies.

3. Formulation of Novel Drug Products: UCD lead for SFI-EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in frontiers in pharmaceutical technology a joint PhD training program between SSPC the SFI Pharmaceutical Research Centre, University of Nottingham and University College London. Current work in the drug product space development of centres on novel Ionic Liquid & supramolecular complex based active pharmaceutical ingredients, in addition to co-processing API and Drug products as an enabler for manufacturing novel complex composite formulations. (http://www.transpharmtech-dtc.ac.uk, https://pharmacy.tcd.ie/CDT/)

4. Nanotechnology, Circular Economy and Zero Emissions: Currently working in collaboration with Prof Dermot Brougham and Dr. Tony Keane in UCD to develop scalable manufacturing routes for materials aimed at biomedical nanotechnology and recycling methodologies for EV batteries:
https://www.sfi.ie/challenges/zero-emissions/#row-collapse-item-2