Project Structure
Work Packages

Yeast Cell Factory Engineering

​WP 1

Engineering yeast strains with inducible expression systems for controlled mRNA production. Development of subcellular compartmentalisation strategies to protect mRNA from cellular RNases and enable efficient accumulation.

• Design and construction of inducible promoter systems

• Engineering of protective subcellular compartments

• Optimisation of mRNA stability and yield

• Validation of standard mRNA and saRNA production

saRNA Platform Extension

WP 4​

Adapting the ARISE platform to produce complex, long self-amplifying RNAs (saRNA). saRNA encodes both the therapeutic protein and the replication machinery, enabling amplified therapeutic effect at lower doses.

• saRNA construct design and optimisation

• Validation of saRNA replication in host cells

• Comparison of yeast-produced vs. IVT-produced saRNA

• Biological activity and safety assessment

Bioprocess Development

WP 2

Development and optimisation of upstream bioprocesses for scalable yeast fermentation. Establishing robust, reproducible cultivation conditions for industrial-scale mRNA production.

• Fermentation process design and optimisation

• Scale-up from laboratory to pilot bioreactors

• Process analytical technology (PAT) implementation

• Robustness and reproducibility validation

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Quality Control & Validation

WP 5

Comprehensive quality control and biological validation of ARISE-produced mRNA and saRNA. Establishing analytical methods and quality standards aligned with regulatory requirements for therapeutic RNA.

• Development of analytical characterisation methods

• Biological activity testing in cell-based assays

• Immunogenicity and safety profiling

• Regulatory-aligned quality documentation

Extraction & Purification

WP 3

Development of simple, scalable downstream processes for mRNA extraction and purification. Establishing a cost-effective purification pipeline suitable for both standard mRNA and long saRNA molecules.

• Subcellular compartment isolation methods

• Chromatographic purification process development

• Scalable purification for long saRNA molecules

• Process integration and optimisation

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​Project Management

WP 6

Coordination of the ARISE consortium, ensuring timely delivery of milestones and effective communication of results to the scientific community, industry, and the public.

• Consortium coordination and governance

• Scientific dissemination and publications

• Stakeholder engagement and exploitation planning

• Communication and public outreach