Tulane Researchers Create Device to Help Stabilize Biologic Medicines, Accelerating their Development and Making them Safer
Alex Reed, William Hotaling, and Curtis Jarand attended the Bioprocessing Summit in Boston in August 2025.
Biologic medicines are therapeutic drugs derived from biological sources, such as cells, as opposed to traditional, chemically synthesized small-molecule medicines, such as aspirin and acetaminophen. Biologics include monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, therapeutic peptides, gene therapy agents, and more. They are extraordinarily successful in treating diseases, such as colitis, psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, melanoma, diabetes, obesity, asthma, and many more. Because of this success, there are extremely intense, worldwide efforts to develop an increasingly vast arsenal of biologics aimed at chronic, congenital, and deadly diseases, including cancer.
Despite their growing success, one of the most critical factors in their clinical viability is their stability. Biologic medicines need a delicate balance of formulation conditions to be stable, and any instability makes them unsuitable for use and potentially dangerous, even lethal.
Tulane University School of Science and Engineering researchers Wayne F. Reed, Murchison-Mallory Professor of Physics and Interdisciplinary Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Curtis W. Jarand, Research Assistant Professor of Analytical Chemistry in the Physics and Engineering Physics Department, have developed a cuvette-based spectroscopic device that allows characteristics and stability of biologics to be spectroscopically monitored as their formulation conditions change automatically and continuously. A cuvette is a transparent vial used in many types of instruments, such as light scattering, fluorescence, and ultraviolet absorption. The device can be used in any of these instruments directly and without any modifications. It features reliable, damage-free mixing, inlet and outlet feeds of test substances for the biologics, and, importantly, can monitor the effect of formulation agents on biologics during dialysis through a membrane sealed on the device.
The research has so far attracted private funding to Reed’s group from major pharmaceutical companies involved in the development of monoclonal antibodies, gene therapy agents, mRNA vaccines, conjugate protein-polysaccharide vaccines, diabetes/obesity drugs, and others. The technology addresses analytical needs in the global instrumentation market, currently estimated at about $2 billion, annually. While the focus is currently on biologics, the device and methods can also be applied in the food and beverage industry, in the development of natural and artificial membranes, and in optimizing properties of personal care, metallurgical, oil-recovery, and other products.
Reed has experience turning laboratory ideas into successful ventures. His patented multi-angle light scattering cell was licensed by Tulane to Brookhaven Instruments Corp. (Holtsville, NY) in 2002 and is still sold as the key feature of the commercial BI-MwA instrument. He co-founded Fluence Analytics using a technology he invented, known as Automatic Continuous Online Monitoring of Polymerization, or ACOMP. The system enables manufacturers to monitor polymer reactions in real time, improve product quality, reduce energy and non-renewable resource use and emissions, and create safer working conditions. Yokogawa Electric acquired the company in 2023, now Yokogawa Fluence Analytics, making it one of Tulane’s most successful spinouts. Reed’s son, Alex Reed, was the Fluence Analytics founding CEO, who, together with Tulane alum Jay Manouchehri, spearheaded the acquisition as Co-CEOs.
The cuvette spectroscopy project is also supported by the Tulane Innovation Institute. Matt Koenig, Executive Director of Intellectual Property Management, has guided the submission of three full patent applications on the technology, while the Provost’s Proof of Concept Fund, which provides early-stage technologies with funding and mentorship, has allowed undergraduate students to participate in both basic research and marketing involving the technology.
Wayne Reed, co-inventor and Tulane University Murchison-Mallory Professor of Physics
“We are pleased to be able to support Professor Reed as a successful serial entrepreneur through the Provost’s Proof of Concept Fund. His work is exactly what the Robert L. Priddy Innovation Lab within the Institute is designed to support,” said Claiborne M. Christian, Ph.D., Executive Director of Commercialization at the Tulane Innovation Institute.
At Tulane University, students and faculty work side by side in an environment that supports both research and hands-on learning. Undergraduate students play an important role in the current effort. Sylvia Austin, a neuroscience major with a minor in strategy, leadership, and analytics, is being directly mentored on marketing, business, and customer discovery by Alex Reed, to examine product-market fit, validate the science, develop a commercialization strategy, and understand the needs of potential customers. Her work includes conducting market research, speaking with researchers and executives across the country, and making presentations at biotechnology conferences.
“It's exciting to see how Tulane students and faculty can work together to turn an academic idea into a solution, engage with people in industry, and make connections in the biopharma sector,” Austin said.
Students doing research in the lab include undergraduate researcher William Hotaling, who is pursuing degrees in physics and English with a minor in chemistry, William Larson, who is pursuing a degree in Cell and Molecular Biology with minors in Physics and Nutrition, and Benjamin Franklin High School student August Jarand, who has served as a research intern.
Sylvia Austin, Undergraduate Commercial Lead
Biologics Spectroscopy represents Reed’s second potential spinout company, whose formation is currently being pursued. Reed says "It takes a group of highly motivated people, with talents spanning basic science, hard technology, software and AI, commercialization, and venture capital expertise for high-tech spinouts to be successful."
The initial website for the technology is at tulane.theopenscholar.com/biologicsspectroscopy.
The team is looking for a CEO to lead the venture, continuing customer discovery, preparing for a spinout, and developing a beta customer program. Any alumni or others interested in learning more should reach out to W. Reed at wreed@tulane.edu
