Team:Tec-Monterrey/teaminstallations/centrofemsa

Our headquarters for the development of this project were the facilities at the FEMSA Biotechnology Center at the Tecnológico de Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico. At this center, we were kindly given access to the Laboratory of Genetic Manipulation and Molecular Diagnostics, which became our main workplace throughout the summer. It was in this laboratory that we had all the necessary equipment to perform most of our experiments: DNA extractions, gel electrophoresis, ligations, digestions and gel purifications, as well as space to carry out research for the development of the project.
We also had access to the Fifth Floor Research Facilities at the Biotechnology Center, where we performed the part of the project that demanded much more sophisticated equipment, such as transformations by electroporation, quantifications and fluorescence assays.
Additionaly, part of our work had to be done at the ITESM School of Medicine, namely the preparation of electrocompetent cells. This Center, located at the Tecnológico de Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico, is devoted to the generation of research, the transfer of knowledge and the modeling of new business schemes that involve biotechnology and food technology areas. For such reasons, it is equiped with cutting-edge infraestructure in laboratories, pilot plants and business incubators.
The Center emerged 15 years ago as a response to the increasing trends in scientific and technologic innovation in the country and the whole world and through time it has supported the following lines of research, all focused in the innovation of products, processes and services:
Food Biotechnology:
Study of biomolecules found in Mexican plants and foods with therapeutic properties.
Development and optimization of new food products and processes.
Bioprocess Engineering:
Design, scaling and optimization of biotechnological processes.
Pharmaceutical and Medical Biotechnology:
Development and validation of new drugs.
Molecular diagnostic of diseases.
Culture and differentiation of tissues.
Biological Chemistry:
Isolation and characterization of biologically active compounds.
Synthesis of new drugs
Design of new materials with applications in the pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries.
Some of the strategic partners of the center are:
Cambridge University, UK
Texas A&M University
Cornell University
Arizona State University
University of California (San Diego & Davis)
Carnegie Mellon University
Some of the achievements of the center are:
More than 14 patent requests.
More than 250 papers published in journals with high indexing level.
3 published books.
12 book chapters
30 researches, of which, more than 70% belong to the National System of Researchers.