Professor Zoltán Kis (he/him)

School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering

Professor of Bioprocess Engineering

Zoltan Kis
Profile picture of Zoltan Kis
z.kis@sheffield.ac.uk
G58 , Sir Robert Hadfield Building

Full contact details

Professor Zoltán Kis
School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering
G58
Sir Robert Hadfield Building
Mappin Street
Sheffield
S1 3JD
Profile

I am a Professor of Bioprocess Engineering in the School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering at the University of Sheffield, and an Honorary Lecturer at the Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London.

I am leading a multidisciplinary team that is innovating and digitalising RNA vaccine and therapeutics production platform technologies. My work is addressing the challenges of producing large volumes of RNA-based vaccines and therapeutics, rapidly, at high quality and at low cost in a disease-agnostic manner.

I previously worked as a Research Associate in the Future Vaccine Manufacturing Hub at Imperial College London. I obtained my Ph.D. in Bioengineering from Imperial College London, UK, hold an M.Sc. in Applied Biotechnology and a B.Eng. in Chemical with Biochemical Engineering.

Research interests

Our exciting research combines experimental and computational modelling techniques to innovate RNA vaccine and therapeutics production multi-product platform processes. On the experimental front, we are developing, intensifying and scaling up continuous mRNA enzymatic synthesis, purification and formulation processes, alongside developing bespoke manufacturing equipment. Our modelling work streamlines process development and deploys software-based sensors and digital twins for monitoring and automating multi-product mRNA manufacturing. Our work is embedded into the Quality-by-Digital-Design framework and follows techno-economic considerations. Our efforts will enable the rapid development and mass manufacturing of high-quality mRNA vaccines/therapeutics at low costs against a wide range of diseases.

Key research areas include:

  • Experimental mRNA vaccine and RNA therapeutics manufacturing process development: process intensification, continuous manufacturing and scale-up.
  • Development and optimisation of continuous in vitro transcription (IVT) reaction for mRNA synthesis, continuous mRNA downstream purification processes based on continuous chromatography and tangential flow filtration unit operations, as well as continuous LNP formulation unit operations.
  • Development of new unit operations and design of process equipment for mRNA manufacturing.
  • Process digitalisation: development of soft sensors and digital twins to monitor and control the manufacturing of RNA vaccines, RNA therapeutics and other biopharmaceuticals.
  • Techno-economic modelling for reducing the costs, increasing production rates and increasing production volumes of RNA vaccines, RNA therapeutics and other biopharmaceuticals.
  • Quality by Digital Design for consistently ensuring product quality, support scale-up, technology transfer, and for accelerating the regulatory approval process.
Publications

Journal articles

  • Webb ALJ, Welbourne EN, Minshull TC, Loveday KA, Bora P, Kis Z, Nilsson GA, Murthy A, Örnskov E & Dickman MJ (2025) . Journal of Chromatography A, 466653-466653.
  • Sekirnik R, Kuhn AN, Azevedo AM & Kis Z (2025) . Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, 12.
  • Nourafkan E, Yang Z, Maamra M & Kis Z (2025) . European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 212, 107183-107183.
  • Welbourne EN, Copley RJ, Owen GR, Evans CA, Isoko K, Cook K, Cordiner J, Kis Z, Moghadam PZ & Dickman MJ (2025) . The Analyst, 150(5), 1012-1021.
  • Nair A & Kis Z (2024) . Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, 11.
  • Nourafkan E, Kenyon C, Nair A, Loveday KA, Welbourne EN, Tao M, Ahmed M, Middleton J, Dickman MJ, Brown SF , Maamra M et al (2024) . Biotechnology Journal, 19(11).
  • Qu J, Nair A, Muir GW, Loveday KA, Yang Z, Nourafkan E, Welbourne EN, Maamra M, Dickman MJ & Kis Z (2024) . Molecular Therapy - Nucleic Acids, 35(4).
  • Isoko K, Cordiner JL, Kis Z & Moghadam PZ (2024) . Digital Discovery, 3(9), 1662-1681.
  • Nair A, Loveday KA, Kenyon C, Qu J & Kis Z (2024) . Methods Mol Biol, 2786, 339-364.
  • Giannelli C, Necchi F, Palmieri E, Oldrini D, Ricchetti B, Papathanasiou MM, Kis Z, Kontoravdi C, Campa C & Micoli F (2024) . The AAPS Journal, 26(2).
  • Welbourne EN, Loveday KA, Nair A, Nourafkan E, Qu J, Cook K, Kis Z & Dickman MJ (2024) . Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, 11.
  • Curry E, Muir G, Qu J, Kis Z, Hulley M & Brown A (2024) . Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 121(6), 1912-1926.
  • Ibrahim D, Kis Z, Papathanasiou MM, Kontoravdi C, Chachuat B & Shah N (2024) . Vaccines, 12(2).
  • Newall AT, Beutels P, Kis Z, Towse A & Jit M (2023) . Vaccine, 41(14), 2317-2319.
  • Geall AJ, Kis Z & Ulmer JB (2023) . Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery, 18(2), 119-127.
  • Daniel S, Kis Z, Kontoravdi C & Shah N (2022) . Vaccine Insights, 01(04), 219-233.
  • Palmieri E, Kis Z, Ozanne J, Di Benedetto R, Ricchetti B, Massai L, Carducci M, Oldrini D, Gasperini G, Aruta MG , Rossi O et al (2022) . Vaccines, 10(7).
  • Ly HH, Daniel S, Soriano SKV, Kis Z & Blakney AK (2022) . Molecular Pharmaceutics, 19(6), 1892-1905.
  • Daniel S, Kis Z, Kontoravdi C & Shah N (2022) . Trends in Biotechnology, 40(10), 1213-1228.
  • Rostami F, Kis Z, Koppelaar R, Jiménez L & Pozo C (2022) . Energy Storage Materials, 48, 412-438.
  • Kis Z, Tak K, Ibrahim D, Papathanasiou MM, Chachuat B, Shah N & Kontoravdi C (2022) . npj Vaccines, 7(1).
  • Kis Z (2022) . Pharmaceutics, 14(2).
  • Ibrahim D, Kis Z, Tak K, Papathanasiou MM, Kontoravdi C, Chachuat B & Shah N (2021) . Vaccines, 9(12).
  • van de Berg D, Kis Z, Behmer CF, Samnuan K, Blakney AK, Kontoravdi C, Shattock R & Shah N (2021) . npj Vaccines, 6(1).
  • Kis Z (2021) Enhancing vaccine platforms : computational models accelerate development, manufacturing, and distribution. BioProcess International.
  • Kis Z, Kontoravdi C, Shattock R & Shah N (2020) . Vaccines, 9(1).
  • Kis Z, Kontoravdi C, Dey AK, Shattock R & Shah N (2020) . Journal of Advanced Manufacturing and Processing, 2(3).
  • Kis Z, Papathanasiou M, Calvo‐Serrano R, Kontoravdi C & Shah N (2019) . Journal of Advanced Manufacturing and Processing, 1(3).
  • Kis Z, Shattock R, Shah N & Kontoravdi C (2019) . Biotechnology Journal, 14(7), 1-2.
  • Kis Z, Shattock R, Shah N & Kontoravdi C (2019) . Biotechnology Journal, 14(1).
  • Koppelaar RHEM, Sule MN, Kis Z, Mensah FK, Wang X, Triantafyllidis C, van Dam KH & Shah N (2018) . Water, 10(9).
  • Kis Z, Pandya N & Koppelaar RHEM (2018) . Energy Policy, 120, 144-157.
  • Lacroix J, Kis Z, Josupeit R, Schlund F, Stroh-Dege A, Frank-Stöhr M, Leuchs B, Schlehofer J, Rommelaere J & Dinsart C (2018) . Viruses, 10(6).
  • Geiss C, Kis Z, Leuchs B, Frank-Stöhr M, Schlehofer J, Rommelaere J, Dinsart C & Lacroix J (2017) . Viruses, 9(10).
  • Kis Z, Rodin T, Zafar A, Lai Z, Freke G, Fleck O, Del Rio Hernandez A, Towhidi L, Pedrigi RM, Homma T & Krams R (2016) . Scientific Reports, 6(1).
  • Towhidi L, Khodadadi D, Maimari N, Pedrigi RM, Ip H, Kis Z, Kwak BR, Petrova TW, Delorenzi M & Krams R (2016) . Physiological Reports, 4(6).
  • Kis Z, Pereira HS, Homma T, Pedrigi RM & Krams R (2015) . Journal of the Royal Society, Interface, 12(106).
  • Towhidi L, Maimari N, Kis Z, Khodadadi D & Krams R (2014) . Atherosclerosis, 237(2), e14-e14.
  • Frueh J, Maimari N, Lui Y, Kis Z, Mehta V, Pormehr N, Grant C, Chalkias E, Falck-Hansen M, Bovens S , Pedrigi R et al (2012) . FEBS Letters, 586(15), 2164-2170.
  • Kis Z, Makarov SV & Silaghi-Dumitrescu R (2010) . Journal of Sulfur Chemistry, 31(1), 27-39.
  • Kis Z & Silaghi‐Dumitrescu R (2010) . International Journal of Quantum Chemistry, 110(10), 1848-1856.
  • Makarov SV, Salnikov DS, Pogorelova AS, Kis Z & Silaghi-Dumitrescu R (2008) . Journal of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines, 12(10), 1096-1099.
  • Kis Z, Burian K, Treso B, Acs K, Prohaszka Z, Fust G, Gonczol E & Endresz V (2008) . Inflammation Research, 57(6), 287-295.
  • Kis Z, Treso B, Burian K, Endresz V, Pallinger E, Nagy A, Toth A, Takacs M, Falus A & Gonczol E (2008) . FEMS Immunology & Medical Microbiology, 52(3), 324-334.
  • Ahmed M, Hamed S, Cardoso R, Kenyon C, Pohare M, Maamra M, Dickman M, Cordiner J & Kis Z () . Digital Discovery.
  • Kopilovic B, Maamra M & Kis Z () . Cell and Gene Therapy Insights, 11(5), 605–620-605–620.
  • Kis Z () . Nucleic Acid Insights, 1(8), 301–308-301–308.
  • Alifia KCH, Kontoravdi C, Kis Z & Ismail D () . International Journal of Technology, 13(8), 1630-1630.
  • Kis Z, Kontoravdi C, Shattock R & Shah N () . Vaccines, 9(3), 205-205.
  • Mot A, Zoltan K, Svistunenko DA, Damian G, Silaghi-Dumitrescu R & Makarov SV () . Dalton Trans., 39(6), 1464-1466.

Book chapters

  • (2022) , Computer Aided Chemical Engineering (pp. 2167-2172). Elsevier
  • (2022) , Computer Aided Chemical Engineering (pp. 1633-1638). Elsevier
  • Pereira GC, Malik S, Kis Z & Rocamonde B (2019) , Natural Bio-active Compounds (pp. 127-146). Springer Singapore
  • Kis Z, Towhidi L, Ip H, Drakakis E, Bharath A & Krams R (2014) An In situ electroporation and flow device for mechanotransduction studies, Microarrays Principles Applications and Technologies (pp. 49-67).

Preprints

  • Webb ALJ, Welbourne EN, Loveday KA, Bora P, Kis Z, Nilsson GA, Murthy A, Örnskov E & Dickman MJ (2025) , American Chemical Society (ACS).
  • Tao M, Nair A, Kalospyrou I, Milton RA, Maamra M, Kis Z, Cordiner J & Brown SF (2024) Multiple Gaussian process models based global sensitivity analysis and efficient optimization of in vitro mRNA transcription process, arXiv.
  • Curry E, Muir G, Qu J, Kis Z, Hulley M & Brown A (2023) , Wiley.
  • Kis Z, Tak K, Ibrahim D, Papathanasiou MM, Chachuat B, Shah N & Kontoravdi C (2021) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Research group

For the latest info on our research and team, please visit our .

Grants

Current grants

DateFunderRoleTitleFunding amount
1 Oct 2024 – 30 Sep 2027Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)Principal InvestigatorRNAboxTM: An automated continuous closed RNA platform process-in-a-box for rapid outbreak-response disease-agnostic RNA vaccine development and mass-manufacturing at high-quality and low-cost£3.7 million
(US $4.8 million)
1 Apr 2024 – 31 Mar 2027Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
BB/Y007514/1 · Engineering Biology, Mission Awards		‑IԱپٴǰElectrospun mucoadhesive matrices for polymersome-mediated mRNA vaccine delivery£2,382,846
1 Nov 2023 – 1 Nov 2028UK Department of Health and Social Care & Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Hub, UK Vaccine Network		‑IԱپٴǰUK-south-east Asia-vaccine manufacturing research hub£7.6 million
1 Oct 2023 – 30 Sep 2027Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Doctoral Training Partnership with RedShift BioAnalytics		‑IԱپٴǰQuantification of double-stranded mRNA impurities using microfluidics modulation spectroscopy£130,000
Jun 2023Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
BB/X018989/1 · ALERT 2022		‑IԱپٴǰNanoAnalyzer: An emerging technology to analyse life at the nanoscale£242,400
1 Oct 2023 – 30 Sep 2027Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
iCASE PhD studentship with AstraZeneca Plc		‑IԱپٴǰSynthetic Biology-Based Polymerase and Promoter Engineering for Production of Next-Generation RNA Therapeutics£84,000

Previous grants

DateFunderRoleTitleFunding amount
1 Oct 2023 – 31 Mar 2026Innovate UK
SBRI: Vaccine development for potential epidemic diseases, UK Vaccine Network		Principal InvestigatorAutomated and digitalised RNA process-in-a-box for rapid outbreak-response disease-agnostic RNA vaccine/therapeutic development and manufacturing at high-quality and low cost£2 million
6 Dec 2021 – 30 Oct 2024Wellcome Leap
RNA Readiness + Response (R3)		Principal InvestigatorDigitalised, small-scale and high-throughput process for distributed and automated RNA production for therapy and pandemic preparednessMulti-million USD
(confidential)
1 Jan 2022 – 31 Jul 2022UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Research England: HEIF — Covid Recovery		‑IԱپٴǰInnovating the process of RNA vaccine and therapeutic manufacturing – building external partnerships and exploring commercialisation opportunities£74,331
20 Jul 2020 – 19 Jan 2022UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
EP/V01479X/1 · COVID-19		‑IԱپٴǰMeeting the UK demand for COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 vaccines via integrated manufacturing and supply chain optimisation£445,000
1 Sep 2020 – 31 Aug 2022Wellcome Trust
220503/Z/20/Z · Innovator Awards		‑IԱپٴǰA pathway to a live-attenuated whole parasite malaria vaccine£727,458
1 Sep 2020 – 31 Aug 2021Kidney Research UK
Ref. 2548 · Paediatric Innovation		‑IԱپٴǰCell catcher: developing a new method for cell isolation and preservation from urine samples of Bardet-Biedl Syndrome patients£39,997
Teaching activities
  • I am a Fellow of the and I am passionate about teaching and training the next generation of chemical and biological engineers.
  • I am supervising and co-supervising the PhD projects in the field of mRNA production, purification, formulation and analysis in our research team.
  • I am teaching the following modules: 1) CPE336-CPE6043, Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing, 3rd Year UG & M.Sc., Module Leader & Lecturer 2) BIE103 Introduction to Bioengineering, 1st Year UG, Lecturer
Professional activities and memberships
  • July 2019 – Present. American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), Postdoctoral Member.
  • Nov 2018 – Present. Institution of Chemical Engineers, London (IChemE), U.K., Professional Member.
  • June 2018 – Present. European Federation of Biotechnology (EFB).
  • June 2018 – Present. European Biotechnology Network (EBN).
  • June 2018 – Present. Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers Network (DCVMN).
  • May 2018 – Present. The Network in Bioprocessing (BioProNET), a BBSRC Network in Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy co-sponsored by EPSRC (U.K. based).
  • May 2018 – Present. The Food Waste Network (FoodWasteNet), a BBSRC Network in Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy (U.K. based).
  • April 2018 – Present. Vaccine Research Network (VRN) at Imperial College London.
  • March 2012 – Present. European Society of Cardiology (ESC).
  • February 2012 – Present. American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
  • November 2010 – Present. European Association for Cancer Research (EACR).

I am regularly invited to speak at scientific and industry conferences, and to advise policy experts, non-governmental organisations and companies. For example, I provided consultancy on techno-economic modelling to the WHO mRNA Technology Transfer Hub. I sit on the Sanofi mRNA CMC Advisory Board and the Pfizer mRNA Technology Advisory Board.

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