Building facilities that drive life-impacting innovations through agility and partnership.

Led by the University of Delaware through the NIIMBL (The National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals), Project Blackhawk pioneers a modular, pod-based approach to plasmid DNA manufacturing. This initiative demonstrates the feasibility of constructing GMP-capable facilities that are mobile, rapidly deployable, and adaptable to minimal infrastructure environments. Designed to surge biomanufacturing capacity in response to public health emergencies, Project Blackhawk exemplifies NIIMBL’s mission to de-risk and accelerate innovation in biopharmaceutical manufacturing while strengthening the U.S. workforce and economy.

Tom Piombino of IPS, Eric Hacherl, Ph.D. from NIIMBL, and Mason Gibbs from the University of Delaware recently presented at Philly Builds Bio+ conference on how this unique project came to life.