HARRISBURG, PA — A recent graduate of the pharmaceutical science master’s program at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) is the first author of a newly published peer-reviewed article on next-generation methods for manufacturing biopharmaceuticals.
Srinivasulu Katakam ’26 wrote “Continuous Downstream Processing in Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing: A Review” with Erik Hefti, PharmD, PhD, associate professor and program lead of pharmaceutical sciences in HU’s School of Health and Science. The review was published Sept. 16 in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Innovation, a peer-reviewed journal from Springer Nature.
“Getting published in a peer-reviewed journal is hard, so this is a major accomplishment that not all can attain,” Hefti said.
Katakam said the review “originated from my graduate thesis during my final semester of the MS in Pharmaceutical Science program at Harrisburg University.”
“I worked closely with Professor Hefti, whose guidance and support were instrumental throughout the research and publication process,” he said.
The review looks at continuous downstream processing, in which a drug moves steadily through the purification steps that follow its production rather than stopping and starting in separate batches. Hefti said the topic speaks directly to problems that affect what patients pay and whether mediations are available.
“There are many inefficiencies in biopharmaceutical manufacturing that impact price and availability of critical medications,” he said. “This paper explores next-generation manufacturing techniques that may be applied in the pharmaceutical space to address those current inefficiencies.”
Hefti credits Katakam with driving the project forward.
“Srinivasulu led this initiative; I supported his work,” Hefti said. “I mainly edited the manuscript and assisted in the submission process; he did everything else.”
Katakam built the skills for that work in the program’s capstone course, where Hefti simulates the peer-review process throughout the semester.
“We learn how to select journals, how to navigate the peer-review process, and how to write and submit high-quality manuscripts,” Hefti said. “The aim of our capstone course is not to simply write a thesis to ‘check a box.’ My goal is to instill the skills needed to pursue publication confidently while students are at HU or after graduation.”
“Srinivasulu applied those skills to complete that goal,” he added. “We followed the same processes we covered in the thesis course to get this manuscript accepted. I am quite proud of that.”
“HU strengthened my skills in scientific research, literature review, critical thinking, technical writing, and pharmaceutical manufacturing,” Katakam said. “These skills were very valuable in developing my thesis and publication.”
“The most challenging part was reviewing and organizing a large amount of scientific literature and working through multiple revisions,” he said. “I most enjoyed connecting the research with my hands-on experience in downstream biopharmaceutical manufacturing.”
That experience comes from his current role as a downstream biomanufacturing associate at Catalent Pharma Solutions in Madison, Wisconsin. His daily work includes chromatography, filtration, and ultrafiltration/diafiltration, which he said “closely connects with the topics discussed in the publication.”
Publishing is not required in HU’s Pharmaceutical Sciences MS program, but Hefti said it is encouraged and faculty are “always happy to work with students who want to pursue this route, even post-graduation.” Other students and alumni have published their work, he said, and more are pursuing it now.
For graduates, the payoff can be significant.
“Publications like these help a student differentiate themselves from peers in a way that establishes themselves as experts in a certain area,” Hefti said. “Science that is shared is more impactful than the science that is not. Sharing scientific findings is fundamental to innovation and further discovery.”
“Practically, this elevates the profile of a graduate, which is critical in the competitive landscape of the biopharmaceutical space,” he added.
Katakam’s advice to current HU students who are thinking about publishing? Go for it.
“I would encourage them to give it a try,” he said. “Choose a topic you are passionate about, be patient with the process, and seek guidance from your professors. My collaboration with Professor Hefti was a very important part of my publication journey.”
“I’m very grateful to Harrisburg University and especially to Professor Hefti for his guidance and support throughout this journey,” he added.
The full review is available from the Journal of Pharmaceutical Innovation.
ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) is an independent, nonprofit university in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, offering degrees in advanced manufacturing, analytics, biotechnology, cybersecurity, nursing, and other STEM fields. Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, HU serves a diverse student body through bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs that link research with practical application. Learn more at HarrisburgU.edu or contact us at Connect@HarrisburgU.edu or 717.901.5146 for more information about HU’s degree and professional development programs. Stay in the know by following Harrisburg University on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.
MEDIA CONTACT
Do you have questions about this story? Interested in lining up an interview? Please contact Dan Wilhelm, director of communications, at DWilhelm@HarrisburgU.edu or 717.901.5100 ext. 1724.
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