Food Process Engineering Laboratory
The Food Process Engineering Laboratory (FPEL) at the University of British Columbia develops technologies to make food and health products safer, healthier, more sustainable, and more accessible.
Led by Dr. Anubhav Pratap-Singh, our interdisciplinary research spans food engineering, sustainable bioproducts, advanced packaging, and non-invasive delivery of therapeutic peptides and hormones. We combine fundamental science with process engineering, product development, scale-up, and industry translation.
Pratap-Singh Lab Members. June 2023
Our research is organized around four interconnected areas:
Non-Invasive Delivery of Peptides & Biologics
We develop oral, buccal, sublingual and intranasal delivery technologies aimed at overcoming the limitations of conventional injectable therapeutics.
Current research includes peptide and protein encapsulation, mucoadhesive delivery systems, permeability enhancement, controlled release, spray-dried formulations, and buccal tablets.
Our current NSERC-supported program investigates buccal tablets and nasal sprays for non-invasive delivery of therapeutic peptides and hormones. UBC
Sustainable Food Ingredients & Bioproducts
We transform biological materials and food-processing side streams into functional ingredients with improved nutritional and environmental performance.
Research includes dietary-fibre-based fat mimetics, chia and other plant-derived hydrocolloids, alternative fats, precision fermentation, plant proteins, and valorization of agricultural and food-processing by-products.
Our work on chia-derived fat mimetics received support through the Innovate BC Ignite program and is being translated toward lower-calorie alternatives to conventional fats. UBC FPEL
Sustainable & Functional Food Packaging
We develop renewable and biodegradable packaging materials from biopolymers and underutilized agricultural resources.
Research spans edible and biodegradable films, food-processing side-streams such as berry pomace, multilayer materials, barrier properties, active packaging and next-generation circular packaging systems.
FPEL also leads the NSERC CREATE Packaging Leaders Training Program (PackLead), a six-year, $1.65-million multidisciplinary initiative to train the next generation of packaging researchers and professionals. UBC Research
Advanced Food Processing & Preservation
We develop and validate processing technologies that improve food safety, quality, nutrition and manufacturing sustainability.
Our work spans thermal and non-thermal processing, high-pressure processing, pulsed light, cold plasma, microwave and vacuum-microwave processing, spray drying, fermentation, aseptic processing, process modelling and scale-up.
Research With Impact
FPEL works across the research-to-translation continuum—from fundamental discovery and graduate training to intellectual property, industrial collaboration, product development and commercialization.
Our researchers collaborate with food manufacturers, biotechnology companies, health researchers, engineers, government agencies and other academic groups to translate scientific discoveries into technologies with real-world impact.
