Transcript Link:Presentation of Andy Boyce
Win-Win Investments: Synthetic Biology for growth and innovation
Dr Andy Boyce
Strategy and Policy Manager Image 1 – Tomato seedling iStockphoto/Thinkstock, Image 2 – Fermenter iStockphoto/Thinkstock 2011, Image 3 – Wheat Hermerara/Getty Images, Image 4 –DNAConfig Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Thinkstock, Image 5 – Jersey Cow iStockphoto/Thinkstock, Image 6 – Scientist Comstock / Thinkstock
Agenda
• What do we mean by Synthetic Biology?
• UK interest in Synthetic Biology • UK strategy for Synthetic Biology: – Research, International, Public dialog – Innovation and Industry
What do we mean by ‘Synthetic Biology’?
The UK views Synthetic Biology as an emerging multidisciplinary field with strong potential for impact on innovation and global grand challenges BBSRC defines Synthetic Biology thus:
“Synthetic biology aims to design and engineer novel biologically based parts, devices and systems, as well as redesign existing natural biological systems for useful purposes.” It incorporates the principles of engineering e.g. modularity, abstraction and orthogonality into classical biotechnology.
What is the Scope of Synthetic Biology
Regulatory Circuits Protocells Minimal Genomes Metabolic Engineering Synthetic Biology Orthogonal Biosystems Bionano science DNA Synthesis / Next Generation Sequencing Systems Engineering Systems Biology / Modelling Computational Design Other areas....
UK public organisations interested in SynBio
• • • •
Research Councils
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Medical Research Council Economic and Social Research Council • •
Learned Societies
The Royal Society The Royal Academy of Engineering • • •
Government Departments
Department of Business, Innovation and Skills – Technology Strategy Board Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (MoD) Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
UK Synthetic Biology strategy
International stakeholder engagement – US, EU, China Building a multidisciplinary research community Funding world class synthetic biology research
UK Synthetic Biology Strategy
Ethical, legal and societal issues and public dialogue Boosting research capacity in synthetic biology Industrial partnership, growing new businesses Postgraduate training and fellowships
UK Synthetic Biology strategy
International stakeholder engagement – US, EU, China Building a multidisciplinary research community Funding world class synthetic biology research
UK Synthetic Biology Strategy
Ethical, legal and societal issues and public dialogue Boosting research capacity in synthetic biology Industrial partnership, growing new businesses Postgraduate training and fellowships
Funding world class science and boosting capacity
• • Responsive mode funding Priority for BBSRC and EPSRC Initiative funding from MRC and ESRC • • BBSRC strategic Longer Larger (LoLa) grants £4m investment in ‘click chemistry’ for DNA ligation Synthetic Biology for ‘white biotech’ priority • • EPSRC Science and Innovation awards £4m investment in Imperial Colleague London £5m investment in platform technologies for SynBio
UK Synthetic Biology strategy
International stakeholder engagement – EU, US, China Building a multidisciplinary research community Funding world class synthetic biology research
UK Synthetic Biology Strategy
Ethical, legal and societal issues and public dialogue Boosting research capacity in synthetic biology Industrial partnership, growing new businesses Postgraduate training and fellowships
UK - International Synthetic Biology links
The US China Policy links
ERA-NET in Synthetic Biology (ERASynBio) Partners
Funding links
ESF EuroSYNBIO grants with UK partners Centres involved in UK - EU FP7 funded projects
UK Synthetic Biology strategy
International stakeholder engagement – US, EU, China Building a multidisciplinary research community Funding world class synthetic biology research
UK Synthetic Biology Strategy
Ethical, legal and societal issues and public dialogue Boosting research capacity in synthetic biology Industrial partnership, growing new businesses Postgraduate training and fellowships
Ethical, legal and societal issues and public dialogue
• • • Ethics and public dialog Bioscience for Society SynBio subpanel (2007) Social and Ethical Challenges (2008) Synthetic Biology Dialog (2010) – 41 stakeholders: industry, religious groups, NGOs, regulators, researchers and others – 160 members of the public – Conditional support for Synthetic Biology • Regulation Stakeholders scenario planning (2008)
UK Synthetic Biology strategy
International stakeholder engagement – US, EU, China Building a multidisciplinary research community Funding world class synthetic biology research
UK Synthetic Biology Strategy
Ethical, legal and societal issues and public dialogue Boosting research capacity in synthetic biology Industrial partnership, growing new businesses Postgraduate training and fellowships
Applications for Synthetic Biology
Medicine biotherapeutics antibiotics vaccines Gene therapy/ drug delivery Tissue engineering diagnostics Energy Hydrogen generating microbes 2 nd generation biofuels Environment Pollution detectors bioremediation Artificial photosynthesis Chemicals Industry Improved production of fine/bulk chemicals Engineered microbes for fibre production Artificial fibres National Security Biological weapons sensors Agriculture Food additives Nanotech Molecular switches Biological nanomachines Early industrial applications for Synthetic Biology
Economic potential for Synthetic Biology
• • The global market for synthetic biology has been estimated to exceed $10bn in 2016 – Growth rate of 45% per year – The US has around 70 products nearing market TSB have identified Synthetic Biology as the emerging technology most important for the UK – The UK is aiming for a £1bn market within 10 years How do we bridge the gap between excellent science in our institutions and industry?
Build an overarching network
• • • • • • TSB have developed a Special Interest Group (SIG) Building the community Networking Facilitating collaboration Supporting initiatives Knowledge exchange Connecting across sectors and disciplines
Funding a Feasibility Competition (now open)
• • • • • • Advancing the industrial applications of Synthetic Biology Funding of up to £6.5m from TSB, BBSRC and EPSRC £375k to demonstrate innovative industrial applications of SynBio De-risk R&D for UK industry Accelerate technology development Generate a critical mass Support collaboration and KE
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BBSRC web links:
The Synthetic Biology dialog: www.bbsrc.ac.uk/society/dialogue/activities/synthetic-biology/findings recommendations.aspx Synthetic biology: social and ethical challenges: www.bbsrc.ac.uk/organisation/policies/reviews/scientific-areas/0806 synthetic-biology.aspx
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BBSRC Synthetic Biology Contacts:
Dr Amanda Collis: [email protected]
Dr Andy Boyce: [email protected]
Dr Mark Roberts: [email protected]