Michael Butler, PhD profile page

Michael Butler is a principal investigator at the National Institute of Bioprocessing Research & Training (NIBRT), adjunct full professor in University College Dublin and distinguished professor emeritus of the University of Manitoba, Canada. He holds degrees in Chemistry and Biochemistry from the Universities of Birmingham, London (UK) and Waterloo (Canada). After a period of several years as principal lecturer in Biotechnology at Manchester Metropolitan University, Dr. Butler was appointed as professor and NSERC/Apotex Industrial Research Chair in Fermentation Technology in the Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba. In 2008, he was named Distinguished Professor and in 2010 led MabNet, an NSERC-funded national network focused on platform processes for monoclonal antibody production. He has held positions as Chief Scientific Officer (NIBRT), Associate Dean of Science (Manitoba) and Scientific Director of MabNet, a Canadian network for Mab production. He has also been a Visiting Scientist at MIT (USA), Animal Virus Research Institute (Pirbright, UK) and the Universities of Oxford and Rio de Janeiro.

His research focuses on the development of bioprocesses using mammalian cells for the production of recombinant proteins, monoclonal antibodies, and viral vaccines. He is particularly interested in the bioprocess conditions that can be used to control the biochemical structure of glycoproteins and hence the quality of biopharmaceuticals. He collaborates closely with industry and is a past recipient of the Canadian National Synergy Award for University-Industry innovation. He was the founder of Biogro Technologies Inc., a Canadian spin-off company dedicated to serum-free media development.