EATRIS is an organisation that brings together over 155 translational medicine institutes. This means that many amazing treatments and innovations are being developed every day for the benefit of the patients. As a part of the Swedish Spotlight Programme, we are highlighting some of the promising research happening in EATRIS Sweden.
We had the pleasure of interviewing Jesper Hedberg, Chief Executive Officer of the Testa Center and FastTrak PDS EMEA Cytiva.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’ve had the opportunity to shape Testa Center from the ground up, creating an open-access, purpose-built research facility where academia, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), and industries can test and verify their innovations in a true bioproduction environment.
My journey began with a PhD in protein chemistry from Karolinska Institute, and I started my career at Cytiva in 2002. After leading teams at AstraZeneca from 2007 to 2012, I returned to Cytiva in R&D, managing bioreactor processes and product development. In 2016, I became the project leader for Testa Center, and by 2018, I was its director. Since 2022, I’ve been proud to serve as CEO. Throughout my career, my focus has always been on providing an environment where clients can accelerate their innovation journeys. I strongly believe that when we work together, we can achieve far more than we could individually. Testa Center represents that belief, offering a collaborative space where new ideas can thrive and become real solutions in the bioproduction world.
What is Testa Centre, and how are you connected to EATRIS?
Testa Center is a cutting-edge bioprocessing facility that supports companies in scaling up their novel processes and products, bridging the gap between laboratory research and industrial production. It provides expert guidance and access to advanced technology to help optimise processes and accelerate product development. As part of the EATRIS community, Testa Center benefits from increased visibility and the opportunity to connect with a network of leading medical institutes. This partnership allows us to collaborate with others, share knowledge, and contribute to the advancement of innovative medical treatments, moving them from the lab to clinical use.
Describe your average client.
An average client of Testa Center is typically a biotech or life sciences company, research institution, or startup focused on developing innovative technologies and processes in areas like biomanufacturing, gene therapy, sustainable biotechnology, or cleantech. These clients are often focused on transforming their scientific research into industrial applications, aiming to scale up their products or processes from lab experiments to full industrial production.
They are looking for specialised support in optimising bioprocesses, improving production efficiency, or validating new technologies, and they benefit from Testa Center’s state-of-the-art facilities, expert guidance, and collaborative environment. Clients may be working on projects related to next-generation therapies, such as viral vector production, or developing sustainable alternatives to traditional materials, such as biofuels or plant-based products.
In general, these clients are focused on taking their research from proof of concept to real-world application, requiring both technical expertise and infrastructure to overcome challenges in scaling up or process development.
What has been the most significant milestone for Testa Centre during your time there?
We have during our operational start seen around 100 projects through the center. I would regard that in itself as an achievement. The BRIDGE project is building on this base where we together with SciLifeLab and others are really closing the gap between academic innovation and industrialisation.
What challenges do you face in this field?
We have during 2024, similarly as for the whole life science industry, seen a decline in available funding opportunities for the clients coming to Testa Center. This has in some cases resulted in a slightly lower occupancy. With that said we still hit the targets for 2024. However, securing funding opportunities in the life science “eco-system” is a continuous struggle.
What future trends or technologies in translational medicine excite you the most?
Our digitalisation journey is starting to gain good traction in engagements around AR/XR for “virtual environments” and platforms for learning and education. Also, the advent and development of AI is surely something that will change the whole industry, Testa Center included.
Where do you see Testa Centre in 10 years’ time?
In many respects I hope we are doing the same work as we are doing today, i.e., enabling projects to take the leap into industrialisation fast and cost effectively. I also expect that we will be able to support ATMP projects to a much larger extent and have a mature innovation pipeline with digitalisation projects for the bioprocessing industry.
How would you strengthen cooperation between Testa Centre and EATRIS, and how could EATRIS be of importance to Testa Centre in future?
To strengthen cooperation between Testa Center and EATRIS, we could increase collaboration through joint projects and initiatives that align with both organisations’ goals of advancing translational medicine. By sharing resources, knowledge, and expertise, we can ensure that new therapies and technologies reach their full potential, from early-stage research to clinical applications.
EATRIS can play an important role in helping Testa Center by providing a platform for networking and visibility within the broader translational medicine community. Connecting with other EATRIS member institutes could offer valuable partnerships, insights, and opportunities for collaboration, specifically in areas of regulatory affairs, clinical trial support, and funding for innovative projects.
