SAN ANTONIO — March 23, 2026 — Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) celebrated the grand opening of its new Clinical Supply Facility (CSF). The 21,000-square-foot laboratory adds dedicated suites and HEPA filtered cleanrooms to support pharmaceutical development and bioengineering research, particularly in advanced clinical supplies. The facility expands SwRI’s capability to conduct “Fill Finish” for capsules, sachets, tablets and other advanced formulations for all routes of administration. The facility will facilitate the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients, formulated products, and biologics or cell-based materials such as in vitro generated stem cells and vaccine components.

The National Science Foundation Energy Storage Engine in Upstate New York, which aims to transform upstate into America's battery tech capital, will receive $45 million over three years for the second phase of the program.

The initiative, led by Binghamton University and its core partners — Cornell University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Syracuse University, Griffiss Institute, Launch-NY, and NY-BEST — is one of nine inaugural Engines launched under NSF’s Regional Innovation Engines program.

Toward sustainability in the polyolefin field, this perspective focuses on two key aspects: (1) the mechanical or catalytic upcycling of polyolefin waste into valuable products and feedstocks; and (2) the redesign of polyolefins for more efficient production, improved properties, and enhanced degradability for sustainability.

While often dismissed as simple waste, biodegradable plastics are actually high-value resources that are easier to process than traditional plastics. By converting waste into energy and fertilizers, researchers demonstrate how these materials can achieve both economic goals and carbon neutrality, moving beyond the focus on simple disposal.

Cryopreservation is not a new technology, but there is still much to explore and perfect in the field. Current methods use slow freezing, a method that is conducive to ice formation, cell dehydration and an increase in cryoprotective agents (CPAs). These are not ideal circumstances for achieving immaculately cryopreserved cells. Researchers from the University of Tokyo use vitrification, a process that transforms a substance into a noncrystalline solid by rapid cooling. This cooling yields favorable outcomes in biological samples, even those that are typically difficult to freeze and thaw successfully. Despite challenges within this method, the future of regenerative medicine research may be greatly, and positively, impacted by the use of vitrification for cell cryopreservation.