The Biological Process Development Facility, originally called the UNL Fermentation Facility, was founded in 1990 by the UNL Food Processing Center and the UNL Center for Biotechnology to serve the fermentation needs of UNL.

Over the last 21 years the BPDF has grown from a 1 person operation focused on fermentation research into a facility capable of bringing a biotherapeutic from research to clinical reality. The BPDF now include a full-time staff of 29 scientists, engineers, and administration personnel.

Initial capabilities included a 5 L fermentor, 4 by 1 L fermentors and a pilot plant with a 60 L fermentor, high pressure homogenizer for cell disruption, and cross flow membrane filtration system for cell harvesting.

A scientist pours media into a column at Filley Hall on the East Campus