Duke Center for Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering (CBTE)

What Duke Center for Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering (CBTE) does

Duke Center for Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering (CBTE) is an interdisciplinary academic research and training center operating within Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering. Established circa 2005-2006, the center links three connected biotechnology domains: biomolecular engineering (design of proteins, oligopeptides, and nucleic acids for targeted therapies), cellular engineering (regulation of cell environment for biomolecule expression, drug/gene delivery, and tissue engineering), and tissue engineering (matrix design and ordered cell ensembles for tissue replacement, disease modeling, and drug screening). CBTE draws on approximately 30 core faculty members spanning 20+ Duke departments (Biomedical Engineering, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Cell Biology, Medicine, Surgery, etc.), supported by a small administrative staff of a Program Coordinator and a Grants and Contracts Administrator.

CBTE's core "products" are academic in nature: the NIH T32 Ruth L. Kirschstein biotechnology predoctoral training program (supporting 10 NIH-funded fellows plus 2 Duke-funded fellows at approximately $40,000/year stipend plus tuition/fees), the BTE graduate certificate program for PhD students in Engineering, Arts & Sciences, and Medicine, and a portfolio of events including the annual CBTE Symposium, BioE Seminar Series, Kewaunee Lecture, Chalk Talks, and the rotating Southeastern NIH Biotechnology Training Grant Career Development Workshop. A distinctive offering is the industrial internship program, placing trainees at biotech, pharma, and medical device partners such as Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Stryker, Intellia Therapeutics, and Humacyte.

CBTE does not generate commercial revenue. It is funded primarily through an NIH National Institute for General Medical Sciences T32 training grant and supplemental Duke Graduate School support. The center serves as a training pipeline for the biotechnology industry and academia, with reported outcomes of 109 fellows trained to date, a 92.5% PhD completion/training rate, 5.8 years average time to degree, 4.8 average publications per graduate, and a 15.5% patent conversion rate among trainees. Leadership comprises Director Tatiana Segura, Co-Director/MPI Charles Gersbach, and Associate Director Samira Musah, under a Steering Committee chaired by Ashutosh Chilkoti.

Name

Duke Center for Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering (CBTE)

Legal name

Duke Center for Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering

Website

https://cbte.pratt.duke.edu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Duke Center for Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering (CBTE) is an NIH-funded interdisciplinary training and research center within Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering, training predoctoral fellows in biomolecular, cellular, and tissue engineering across 20+ Duke departments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Research Training (Biomedical Engineering)

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM-Focused Research Universities (Engineering & Applied Sciences) (EDAHABAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology (EDABALAU)

Keywords

• Biomedical engineering research
• Tissue engineering training
• Biomolecular engineering research
• Predoctoral fellowship program
• Regenerative medicine research

Headquarters

HQ city

Durham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. NIH T32 Training Grant Fellowships: NIH National Institute for General Medical Science biotechnology predoctoral training grant pays stipend, tuition and fees for ten predoctoral fellows. Fellowship provides approximately $40,000/year stipend plus partial tuition and fees and ~$300 travel/supply award.
2. Duke Graduate School Fellowships: Duke Graduate School contributes an eleventh and twelfth fellowship for non-US citizens. Lews Fellowship available for non-US citizen rising second-year Duke graduate student.
3. Graduate Training Program: Non-admitting program that draws students from other admitting pre-doctoral programs at Duke in Engineering, Arts & Sciences, and Medicine. Students pursue CBTE certificate while enrolled in degree-granting programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Duke CBTE is an interdisciplinary academic training and research center at Duke University that links three areas of biotechnology — biomolecular engineering, cellular engineering, and tissue engineering. It administers the BTE Certificate Program, an NIH T32-funded predoctoral fellowship, and industrial internships, supporting PhD trainees as they conduct research in Duke faculty laboratories. The center also convenes scientific events (BioE Seminars, Kewaunee Lecture, CBTE Symposium, Chalk Talks, Career Development Workshop) that connect trainees with industry and academic leaders.

Product overview

Duke CBTE is an interdisciplinary academic training and research center at Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering, not a commercial product company. Its offerings consist of educational programs and research training services: the BTE Certificate Program provides graduate-level interdisciplinary training linking biomolecular, cellular, and tissue engineering; the NIH T32 Fellowship Program funds predoctoral trainees; Industrial Internships connect students with partner biotech companies; and various event series (CBTE Symposium, BioE Seminars, Kewaunee Lectures, Chalk Talks, Career Development Workshops) support professional development and knowledge sharing in biotechnology research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BTE Certificate Program Interdisciplinary graduate certificate program integrating engineering, life sciences, and medicine, focused on research interactions with industry in the areas of proteins, cells, and tissues with materials and drugs for biological processes, medical diagnosis, and therapy. Awarded to Duke PhD students who complete the required curriculum.
• NIH T32 Predoctoral Fellowship Program NIH T32 Ruth L. Kirschstein Training Grant Fellowships providing approximately $40,000/year stipend plus partial tuition/fees and a ~$300 travel/supply award for ten predoctoral fellows annually. Two-year term (September 1, 2026 – August 31, 2028). Open to rising second-year Duke PhD students in CBTE core faculty labs; U.S. citizenship required for T32 slots, with additional Duke Graduate School fellowships and Lews Fellowship for non-U.S. citizens.
• Industrial Internships Summer industrial research internship program placing CBTE trainees at partner biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device companies (e.g., Eli Lilly, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Medtronic, GlaxoSmithKline, Boston Scientific, Stryker, Humacyte, Intellia Therapeutics, Precision Biosciences) for hands-on industry research experience.
• CBTE Symposium Annual spring symposium featuring student poster sessions, works-in-progress talks, and a keynote Kewaunee Lecture by a renowned speaker in biomolecular or tissue engineering. Open to Duke trainees, faculty, and external attendees.
• BioE Seminar Series BioEngineering Seminars scheduled each fall and spring during the academic year, featuring external speakers presenting on topics in biomolecular, cellular, and tissue engineering.
• Kewaunee Lecture Series Annual endowed lectureship in Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering sponsored by Kewaunee Scientific Corp., bringing prominent scientists (e.g., David Liu, David Baker, Paula Hammond) to Duke each spring semester.
• Chalk Talks Student-led open forums featuring invited speakers covering professional skills development, responsible conduct of research, and career navigation in industry and academia.
• Southeastern NIH Biotechnology Training Grant Career Development Workshop Annual career development workshop hosted by Duke CBTE on a rotating basis with Georgia Tech, NC State, and UVA, exploring careers in biotechnology through panel discussions and poster sessions for trainees at partner NIH-funded biotechnology training programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 109 graduate students trained to date
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Amyris BiotechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial internship partner hosting CBTE trainees for summer research experience in biotechnology
• ARANZ MedicalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial internship partner for CBTE trainee program
• BASFminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial internship partner for CBTE trainee program
• BD TechnologiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial internship partner for CBTE trainee program
• Boston ScientificminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial internship partner for CBTE trainee program
• Bristol-Myers SquibbminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial internship partner for CBTE trainee program
• Camras Vision (now Alevio)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBTE alumni-founded company developing glaucoma treatment device; hosted internships
• Cellective BiotherapyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial internship partner for CBTE trainee program
• CSIRminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial internship partner for CBTE trainee program
• Draper LaboratoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial internship partner for CBTE trainee program
• Dualogics, LLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial internship partner; CBTE fellow Chelsea Fries worked with CTO on cell culture assays for T cell redirectors
• Eli Lilly (San Diego Biotech Center)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial internship partner for CBTE trainee program
• GlaxoSmithKlineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial internship partner for CBTE trainee program
• HumacyteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial internship partner; CBTE graduate career placement at Humacyte, Inc.
• Intellia TherapeuticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial internship partner; CBTE fellow Veronica Gough interned in New Therapeutic Areas group focusing on CRISPR/Cas9-based medicines
• Isolere BiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuke alumni-founded company; CBTE External Advisory Board member Kelli Luginbuhl is Co-Founder and CEO
• KBI Biopharma, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial internship partner for CBTE trainee program
• McKinsey & CominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial internship partner for CBTE trainee program
• MedtronicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial internship partner for CBTE trainee program
• Precision BiosciencesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial internship partner for CBTE trainee program
• Stryker OrthobiologicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial internship partner for CBTE trainee program
• NIH National Institute for General Medical SciencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary funder of CBTE training program through T32 biotechnology predoctoral training grant supporting 10 fellows annually
• Georgia Institute of Technology - NIH Cell and Tissue Engineering Training ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Southeastern NIH Biotechnology Training Grant Career Development Workshop, hosted on rotating basis
• North Carolina State University - Molecular Biotechnology Training ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Southeastern NIH Biotechnology Training Grant Career Development Workshop
• University of Virginia - Biotechnology Training ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Southeastern NIH Biotechnology Training Grant Career Development Workshop

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Georgia Tech Cell and Tissue Engineering Training Program: Duke CBTE's explicit partner in the Southeastern NIH Biotechnology Training Grant Career Development Workshop. Operates an NIH T32 program with overlapping focus on cell and tissue engineering, making it a directly comparable peer institution.
• Caltech Bioengineering and Biological Engineering: Caltech's bioengineering graduate program with NIH T32 training support and translational research scope similar to Duke CBTE. Directly comparable as a top-tier NIH-funded biotechnology training peer.
• Johns Hopkins Center for Bioengineering Innovation and Design: Johns Hopkins biomedical engineering training and design center with NIH-funded predoctoral training and translational research programs. Comparable in mission (interdisciplinary biotech training) and trainee pipeline to Duke CBTE.
• UC Berkeley Bioengineering: UC Berkeley bioengineering graduate program with NIH-funded predoctoral training and broad industrial partnership pipelines, mirroring Duke CBTE's interdisciplinary training approach in a major public research university setting.
• MIT Biotechnology Training Program: NIH NIGMS T32-funded predoctoral biotechnology training program at MIT, structurally analogous to Duke CBTE in mission, funding mechanism, and trainee profile. Most directly comparable peer in the national T32 biotechnology training ecosystem.
• University of Virginia Biotechnology Training Program: Duke CBTE's rotating partner in the Southeastern NIH Biotechnology Training Grant Career Development Workshop. Operates an NIH T32-funded program in biotechnology with overlapping scope in biomolecular and cellular engineering.
• Stanford Biomedical Engineering Training Program: Stanford's predoctoral training programs in biomedical engineering, including NIH T32-funded tracks, are direct peers to Duke CBTE in scope and function. Both centers combine engineering, life sciences, and translational research training for PhD students.
• NC State Molecular Biotechnology Training Program: Duke CBTE's rotating partner in the Southeastern NIH Biotechnology Training Grant Career Development Workshop. NIH T32-funded program with directly overlapping predoctoral training scope in molecular biotechnology.
• UCSF Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program: UCSF's NIH-funded predoctoral biomedical sciences training programs share Duke CBTE's model of NIH T32 support and interdisciplinary biotechnology training. Highly comparable peer in scale and mission.

Others

• Humacyte, Inc. Public regenerative-medicine company and CBTE industrial internship partner that has hired CBTE alumni. Not a training peer, but an ecosystem participant that bridges academic training to commercial tissue-engineering deployment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/duke-center-for-biomolecular-and-tissue-engineering-cbte

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Duke Center for Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering (CBTE)