Huntsville, Ala., — CFD Research has been awarded a contract valued at up to $4.1 million from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to lead a pioneering effort in whole-cell simulation. Working alongside the University of California San Diego’s Palsson Lab and a team of industry and academic experts, the project aims to create one of the most detailed, accurate simulations of a living bacterial cell to date.
This initiative focuses on Escherichia coli (E. coli), a well-studied bacterium used in research, manufacturing, and medicine. By combining biological data with advanced modeling tools, the team will simulate how E. coli functions and responds to changes, such as drug treatments or genetic modifications, at both the single-cell and population level. The goal is to better predict how cells behave in real-world conditions and apply that understanding to problems like antibiotic resistance and microbial manufacturing.
“By merging biological data with powerful simulation technologies, we’re creating a platform that can accurately model how cells grow, adapt, and respond,” said Dr. Kelly Williams, co-Principal Investigator and Senior Scientist at CFD Research. “This helps researchers design more efficient production strains, anticipate how cells will react to stress, and improve how we respond to infectious diseases.”
The project brings together advanced modeling techniques and large-scale biological data to create a powerful, unified simulation framework of E. coli. This platform will provide a more complete understanding of how cells function, adapt, and respond to various conditions.
To support this effort, the team will generate and integrate experimental data to refine and validate the models. The resulting simulation tools will be applied to real-world challenges, such as improving microbial production processes, predicting antibiotic responses, and supporting the design of more resilient and efficient strains for use in medicine and industry.
Key collaborators on the project include the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and Ginkgo Bioworks (bioprocess monitoring), with CFD Research’s CodeWorks team supporting software development and integration.
“The end result will be a powerful, open modeling framework that helps scientists and engineers explore biological systems in new ways and make smarter decisions in medicine, biomanufacturing, and public health,” said Carrie German, Director in the Biotechnology, Energy & Materials Division at CFD Research.
*This research was, in part, funded by the U.S. Government. The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the U.S. Government.
About CFD Research
Since its inception in 1987, CFD Research has delivered innovative technology solutions within the Aerospace & Defense, Biomedical & Life Sciences, Intelligence & Sensing, and Energy & Materials industries. CFD Research has earned multiple national awards for successful application and commercialization of innovative component/system technology prototypes, multi-physics simulation software, multi-disciplinary analyses, and expert support services. Based in Huntsville, Alabama where laboratory facilities and headquarters are located, CFD Research also has office and laboratory facilities in Dayton, Ohio, prototyping test and evaluation facilities in Hollywood, Alabama, and office facilities in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. CFD Research is an ISO9001:AS9100D registered company and is appraised at CMMI Level II for Services. CFD Research is a 100% ESOP (employee-owned company) recognized in Inc. Magazine’s Inc5000 as a top growing company for five of the last six years. Learn more at www.cfd-research.com.
