The Bioanalytics and Biological Data Science Team creates cutting edge solutions to challenges involving biological systems by combining automated experimental platforms and versatile bioanalytics with data-driven and mechanistic modelling. We support and enable our collaborators and customers to develop bioinspired products, and processes for biological conversion and synthesis.

Our analytics lab comprises state-of-the-art equipment such as LC-MS (Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry) and GC-MS (Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) for the analysis of small and large molecules. We combine these facilities with extensive knowledge about ‘omics’ and have several proved platforms ready for small molecule, protein and glycan analysis. We also develop new analysis methods for specific analytes and matrices.

Our automation platform, that is a key component of VTT Biofoundry, allows rapid development and high-throughput screening of microbial strains, in scales ranging from 1 ml to 200 ml. In projects and customer work we create new protocols for efficient strain assembly and screening, as well as scalable cultivation methods.

Data from these areas as well as sequencing data informs our computational biology approaches. Through metabolic modelling we derive flux distributions and identify bottlenecks, design optimized pathways and predict microbial community interactions.

Artificial Intelligence, Mechanistic and Biophysical Modelling approaches enable us to derive predictions for the construction and constraint of metabolic models, omics data analysis, discovery and design of novel enzymes and proteins.

The current research questions that keep us excited are:

• How to predict genotype-phenotype dependencies for host design?
• How to design new-to-nature enzymes and other proteins using machine learning and biophysical modelling?
• How to push industrial biotechnology beyond the obvious using multi-omics, modelling, AI and automation?
• How can we use the power of natural microbial communities for industrial biotechnology?
• How can we solve biological problems by means of mass spectrometry and robotics?

Our group works in close connection with other groups in VTT’s Industrial Biotechnology operations, e.g. metabolic engineering and synthetic biology, fermentation and protein discovery.

You can find more information about our analytics lab’s equipment and capabilities here.

And more about automation and robotics for biotechnology here.