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
Win-Win Investments: Synthetic Biology for growth and innovation
Dr Andy BoyceStrategy and Policy Manager
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
Synthetic Biology
Bionano-science
Orthogonal Biosystems
ProtocellsRegulatory Circuits
Systems Engineering
Systems Biology /
Modelling
Computational Design
DNA Synthesis / Next Generation
Sequencing
Minimal Genomes
Metabolic Engineering
Other areas....
UK public organisations interested in SynBioResearch 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
Building a multidisciplinary research community
Funding world class synthetic biology research
Boosting research capacity in synthetic biology
Postgraduate training and fellowships
Industrial partnership, growing new businesses
Ethical, legal and societal issues and public dialogue
International stakeholder engagement – US, EU, China
UK Synthetic Biology strategy
UK Synthetic Biology Strategy
Building a multidisciplinary research community
Funding world class synthetic biology research
Boosting research capacity in synthetic biology
Postgraduate training and fellowships
Industrial partnership, growing new businesses
Ethical, legal and societal issues and public dialogue
International stakeholder engagement – US, EU, China
UK Synthetic Biology strategy
UK Synthetic Biology Strategy
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
Building a multidisciplinary research community
Funding world class synthetic biology research
Boosting research capacity in synthetic biology
Postgraduate training and fellowships
Industrial partnership, growing new businesses
Ethical, legal and societal issues and public dialogue
International stakeholder engagement – EU, US, China
UK Synthetic Biology strategy
UK Synthetic Biology Strategy
UK - International Synthetic Biology links
ERA-NET in Synthetic Biology (ERASynBio) Partners
ESF EuroSYNBIO grants with UK partners
Centres involved in UK - EU FP7 funded projects
Funding links
Policy links
ChinaThe US
Building a multidisciplinary research community
Funding world class synthetic biology research
Boosting research capacity in synthetic biology
Postgraduate training and fellowships
Industrial partnership, growing new businesses
Ethical, legal and societal issues and public dialogue
International stakeholder engagement – US, EU, China
UK Synthetic Biology strategy
UK Synthetic Biology Strategy
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)
Building a multidisciplinary research community
Funding world class synthetic biology research
Boosting research capacity in synthetic biology
Postgraduate training and fellowships
Industrial partnership, growing new businesses
Ethical, legal and societal issues and public dialogue
International stakeholder engagement – US, EU, China
UK Synthetic Biology strategy
UK Synthetic Biology Strategy
Applications for Synthetic Biology
Medicine
biotherapeutics
antibiotics
vaccines
Gene therapy/ drug delivery
Tissue engineering
diagnostics
Energy
Hydrogen generating microbes
2nd generation biofuels
Artificial photosynthesis
Environment
Pollution detectors
bioremediation
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 applicationsfor 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
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
BBSRC Synthetic Biology Contacts: • Dr Amanda Collis: [email protected]• Dr Andy Boyce: [email protected] • Dr Mark Roberts: [email protected]