Amine Kamen

Professor Amine Kamen is a distinguished academic at McGill University where he holds the position of Professor in the Department of Bioengineering and serves as Canada Research Chair tier-1 in Bioprocessing of Viral Vaccines. He was recently nominated as Researcher Emeritus by the National Research Council of Canada, following his tenure as head of the Process Development section of the Human Health Therapeutics Portfolio and Lead of the Bioprocessing and Manufacturing of the Vaccine Program at NRC until early 2014.

Professor Kamen's academic credentials include a PhD in Chemical Engineering from École Polytechnique de Montréal (1991), a Docteur-Ingénieur in Chemical Engineering from École Nationale Supérieure des Mines (1983), and an Ingénieur degree in Industrial Chemistry from École Supérieure de Chimie Industrielle Lyon, France (1979). Before joining the National Research Council in 1991, he was a professor of mass-transport phenomena and reactor design.

His research program focuses on the bioprocessing of viral vaccines and vectors, with particular expertise in viral vector technology, vaccine development, and mammalian and insect cell technologies. Professor Kamen leads the Viral Vectors and Vaccines Bioprocessing Group, which examines how viral vaccine production can be accelerated through understanding cell-virus interactions and cellular metabolic states. His multi-dimensional bioengineering approach addresses scientific and engineering challenges at molecular, cellular, and bioreactor scales to develop fully integrated processes for viral vector production. The group maintains strategic focus on cell culture in suspension and serum-free medium using HEK-293 and insect cell-baculovirus systems as hosts for recombinant protein and viral vector expression.

Professor Kamen's extensive publication record demonstrates leadership across multiple viral platforms including adenoviral, adeno-associated, baculovirus, and lentiviral vectors. His recent work emphasizes process intensification, analytical technologies, and stability of viral vectors, addressing both fundamental science and practical manufacturing challenges for clinical applications. His research has direct implications for improving vaccine manufacturing efficiency and scalability for pandemic response.

• Canada Research Chair tier-1 in Bioprocessing of Viral Vaccines
• Researcher Emeritus of the National Research Council of Canada

Professor Kamen has supervised numerous graduate students and research personnel in developing viral-based treatments and prevention strategies. His work bridges academic research and industrial application, with bioprocess designs transferred to Canadian and international organizations. He teaches advanced courses including BIEN 590: Cell Culture Engineering and BIEN 340: Transport Phenomena in Biological Systems, training the next generation of bioengineers in critical vaccine manufacturing technologies.

The Viral Vectors and Vaccines Bioprocessing Group develops novel designs for soft and hard probes for real-time monitoring of animal cell physiological states during bioreactor operations, advancing process analytical technologies for viral vector manufacturing. Their work supports the translation of discoveries in vaccines and gene therapy into commercialized products that significantly improve public health outcomes.