win-win investments: synthetic biology for growth and innovation

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: amanda.collis@bbsrc.ac.uk• Dr Andy Boyce: andy.boyce@bbsrc.ac.uk • Dr Mark Roberts: mark.roberts2@bbsrc.ac.uk